ite differently. We put in rough stony uncleansed ore,
and we have got out this piece. If there's plenty of it in the sides of
the Gap, my boy, and it is properly worked, your father will be a rich
man from the produce of the lead alone; and I feel pretty sure," he
continued, as he examined the scrap of metal through his glass, "that
there is a great deal of silver in this as well. Here, what are you
doing?" he cried.

"I was looking to see if father was coming," I cried, as I turned back
at the door.

"You need not look," he said quietly, "for it will be three hours at the
least before he can get back. The pony must have a rest at the town."

I came back slowly, for I felt that what the doctor said was true, and
it seemed to be all so curious that our bit of mischief should turn out
so strangely that I did what was a very unusual thing for me in those
days, sat down and thought.

The piece of metal was lying before me, and I took it up and examined
it, turning it over and over in my hands, while I could not keep a
strong feeling of doubt from creeping in.

"Perhaps the doctor is wrong," I said to myself, and this may be worth
nothing at all; and as I thought in this fashion, I longed for my father
to come back, so as to hear what he had to say about the value of the
metal. For in those days I had a very frank loyal feeling towards my
father, and a belief in his being about the best man anywhere in the
neighbourhood, and that he knew better than anybody else.

The silence in the room was broken by the entrance of Kicksey to take
away; and as she did so she took the opportunity of informing us that
she had cleared everything away, and that the kitchen was as clean once
more as a new pin.

As I have before said, the doctor, as my father's old friend and
companion, was quite at home in our house, and, after refreshing himself
with a pinch of snuff, he proceeded to have some tobacco in another
form, for he went to the corner cupboard and got out the jar and a long
pipe, which he filled and lit, and then sat there in silence, watching
the piece of rugged metal.

As he sat watching the metal and surrounding himself with smoke, I sat
and watched him, till it became so tiresome and dull that I rose quietly
at last, and stole out into the garden and had a look at the sea, all
aglow now with the evening sunshine, and looking curiously like the
burning charcoal when it had been spread out on the kitchen floor.

It