were. As for those prehistoric workings on which the major counts so
largely, I don't believe but what the old fellows who opened them also
made a pretty thorough clean-up of everything in them. Certainly the
few small piles of copper that they left behind would not now pay for
their removal.

"It has all been very pleasant to dream of becoming a wealthy
mine-owner, but the sooner I realize that it is only a dream, and wake
from it to the necessity of earning a livelihood by hard work, the
better off I shall be. At any rate, I know I won't spend another day
alone in this place. If I did, I should go crazy. No wonder old man
Darrell lost his mind under the conditions surrounding him. I don't
believe Major Arkell will come back, anyway. Why should he, if, as is
probable, he has discovered the utter worthlessness of the property?
He knows that if he leaves me here alone I must turn up in Red Jacket
sooner or later, and thinks the bad news he has to tell will keep
until I do. Well, I shall throw the whole thing up to-morrow and go to
him for a job. There isn't anything else for it that I can see.

"I guess he will give me something to do, and after a while I shall
rise to be a plat-man, or timber boss, or even store-keeper, and
then--Well, then I can settle down and marry some nice girl like Nelly
Trefethen, perhaps achieve fame as a local politician, and so end my
days in a blaze of glory. Oh, it's a lovely prospect! As for poor
Rose, there's no use in thinking any longer of her, and the sooner she
forgets me the better. Probably she has ere this, and, if so, I can't
blame her."

At length the long day dragged itself wearily away, and darkness found
Peveril faint with hunger, for he had not had the heart to prepare a
dinner, awkwardly attempting to provide himself with something to eat
in Aunty Nimmo's kitchen. A single lamp threw a faint ray out from the
window, and in all that forlorn little mining village it was the only
gleam of light to be seen.

Suddenly there came a clatter of hoofs and a cheery "Hello, the
house!"

Instantly forgetful of his culinary operations, Peveril sprang to the
door, just in time to fling it open and welcome Major Arkell, who was
alighting from a weary-looking horse.

"What will you take for your Copper Princess, my boy?" shouted the
new-comer as he entered the room, rubbing his hands and sniffing
expectantly at the pleasant odors of cooking with which it was
pervaded.

"About five