assed we were close to the edge of the ravine, and directly
after on the spot from whence the stone had been dislodged.

Here for the first time I noticed the handle of a hammer in my father's
pocket as he stooped down and examined the place where the rock lay, and
then shook his head. "No, not here," he said. "Go on first." I led
the way and he followed, noting where the rock had bounded off, and then
descending to where it had charged the other pieces and rushed on down,
baring a portion of the side of the ravine, as I have said, to the very
rock.

"Hah!" ejaculated my father suddenly, as he seemed to pounce upon a
fragment of stone something like the first I held. "Here's another, and
another, and another," I said. "Yes, plenty," he replied rather
hoarsely, as he picked up a couple more pieces. "Place them in your
pocket, boy."

As he spoke he looked about him up and down, and ended by uttering
another sharp exclamation, for in one place there was a rugged patch of
rock just like the fragments we held, and seeming as if the cliff-side
there was one solid mass.

"Look here, Sep," he said quietly; "be smart, and gather up all the
rough pieces of common grey slate you can find and throw them about here
I'll help."

I set to work and he aided me vigorously, with the result that in a
short time we had hidden the bright metallic-looking patch, and then he
laid his hand upon my arm.

"That will do," he said. "Now, keep a silent tongue in your head. I'll
talk more to you afterwards. Let's go home now. Stop," he cried,
starting; "don't seem to look, but turn your head slightly towards the
sea. Your eyes are better than mine. Who's that standing on the piece
of rock over yonder. Can you see?"

"No, father, not yet."

"Look more to the north, boy. Just over the big rock that stands out of
the cliff-side. There's a man watching us."

"Yes, I see, father," I cried.

"Who is it?" he whispered, as he led the way along by the steep slope so
that we might descend and go up the Gap by the stream side and reach the
shore.

"Yes, I know, I'm sure now," I cried. "It's old Jonas Uggleston."

"Humph! Of all men in the world," said my father. "Well, the place is
my own now, and no one has a right to interfere."

He walked on silently for a few minutes, and then said softly: "I would
rather no one had known yet." Then aloud to me: "Come, Sep, let's get
home and see what these rocks are made of. I'm beginn