ere's a way in
somewhere from the sea, and that's why the old place was forsaken."

"Sounds reasonable," said Hardock, "'specially as the bits of ore we've
come across are so rich."

"Yes, that's it," said Gwyn. "What a pity, though. How far have you
got down?"

"Oh, a long way, my lad, and laid open the mouths of two galleries.
Wonderful sight of water we've pumped out. Don't seem to get much
farther now."

"No, and you never will," said Joe again, excitedly. "I'm sorry,
though. Father will be so disappointed."

"What makes you say that there's a way in from the sea?" said Hardock,
quietly.

"Because the shaft's so near. It's a very bad job, though."

"But look ye here," said Hardock, laying his hand on Gwyn's shoulder,
"as you have come, tell me this: how should you try to find out whether
it was sea-water we were pumping out?"

"Why, by tasting it, of course," said Gwyn. "It would be quite salt."

"Of course!" said Hardock, with a chuckle, "that's what I did do."

"And was it salt?" asked Joe.

"No, it warn't. It was fresh, all fresh; only it warn't good enough to
make tea."

"Why?" asked Gwyn.

"'Cause you could taste the copper in it quite strong. We shall get the
water out, my lads, in time; but it's a big mine, and goodness knows how
far the galleries run. Strikes me that your guv'nors are going to be
rich men and--Hullo! What's he been doing there?"

The boys turned, on seeing the direction of the mine captain's gaze, and
they saw Tom Dinass's back, as he stood, cap in hand, talking to someone
inside the office door--someone proving to be the Colonel.

"Been to ask to be taken on to work at the mine," said Gwyn.

"But that won't do, my lads," cried Hardock, excitedly. "We want to be
all friends here, and he belongs to the enemy. They can't take him on!
It would mean trouble, as sure as you're both there. Oh, they wouldn't
engage he."

Hardock said no more, for Dinass had seen them as he turned from the
office door, and came toward them at once.

"Are you?" he said to Hardock, without the `How'; and the captain nodded
in a sulky way.

"What do you want here?" he said.

"Just whatever you like, captain. I'm an old hand, and ready for
anything. The guv'nors have took me on, and I'm come to work."

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

SAM HARDOCK DISAPPROVES.

_Clank, clank_! and _wash, wash_! The great pump worked and the water
came up clear and bright, to rush along the channel