n, with
enthralling mystery. The excavation in which Dick and Ted were seated
represented the joint labour of the members of the Mount of Gold
Quartz-mining Company, though the very existence of the mine was unknown
to a single soul outside the juvenile syndicate.

On the surface all signs of the shaft had long since been obliterated.
The quarrymen blasting into the side of the hill years back had made a
small opening into the disused pit at some distance from the top, and
this opening was accidentally discovered by Dick and Jacker one day
during a hunt for a wounded rabbit. Investigation proved the mine to be
of no great depth, and, thanks to the pumps of the Silver Stream, as dry
as a bone. A company of reliable small boys was formed with exceeding
caution and a fine observance of rule and precedent; for Dick Haddon did
nothing by halves, and forgot nothing that might give an air of reality
to the creations of his exuberant fancy.

The original intention of the Mount of Gold Quartz-mining Company was to
strike a reef five yards wide, composed entirely of gold, and to
overwhelm its various parents with contrition on account of past
lambastings by making them suddenly rich beyond the dreams of Oriental
avarice. Time had served to dim the ardour of its hopes in this
direction; but the mine was still an enticing enterprise when exciting
novelties in the way of adventure were wanting, and would always be a
hiding-place in which a youthful fugitive from injustice might defy all
authority so long as the members of the Company remained true to their
oath. Now that oath was quite the most solemn and impressive thing of the
kind that Dick Haddon and Phil Doon had been able to discover after
consulting the highest literary authorities.

The quarrel between Dick and Jacker McKnight that originated under the
school was quite forgotten in the resulting excitement. It was a mere
incident in any case, and would have made no material difference in their
friendship. It had not kept Jacker from visiting the Mount of Gold on the
same night with information and supplies, and now the boy was cheerfully
unconscious of the black eye that still ornamented his broad visage.
There were two well-worn shovels and a miner's pick in the drive. Jacker
seized the pick.

'Might as well put in a bit of work,' he said.

'Hold hard,' replied Dick, 'Smoke-ho, old man. What's goin' on on top?'

'Whips! They had a meetin' about youse last night--Jo, a