aid my father.

"Bigley Uggleston," I replied, feeling very awkward.

"Oh, come in, my lad," said my father quietly; and as I held the door
back for him to enter, it suddenly struck me what a frank,
handsome-looking fellow he had grown.

I felt more awkward still, for it seemed to me that I was going to
listen to some very unpleasant remarks about our companionship being
broken off; but to my surprise my father said quietly:

"Come after Sep?"

"Yes, sir. I thought if he was not busy--"

"Well, but he is," said my father smiling. "He was about to unpack that
box for me--I was just going to set him the task."

Bigley drew back, but my father said good-humouredly:

"Why don't you stop and help him?"

"May I, sir? I should like to."

"Go on, then, my lads. Take the lid off carefully, Sep. There is a
screw-driver in that cupboard."

I went eagerly to the cupboard and opened it, to give quite a start, for
there, hanging upon nails at the back, were the pistols and sword I had
remembered were absent from home.

I found the screw-driver in a sort of tool-chest, and as Bigley and I
took it in turns to draw the screws, my father cleared the table.

"Be careful," he said. "You can lay the things out here. I shall soon
be back."

He left us together, and, all eagerness now, I worked away at the
screws, which were very tight, and there were four on each side of the
lid, and others in the clamps, which had to be removed before the lid
could be raised.

"I am glad I came, Sep," said Bigley. "I was wondering why you hadn't
been down to me."

"Were you?" I said, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Yes. What's in the box?"

"I don't know," I said. "I thought it was blocks of metal, packed to
send away."

I hesitated before I said metal. I was going to say silver; but I felt,
after my father's words, as if I ought to be cautious.

"I believe I know what's inside," said my companion.

"Well, what?" I cried, as I tugged at another screw which refused to go
round.

"New tools for the mine."

"Why, of course!" I exclaimed. "Here: you go on. I can't manage this
screw. How stupid of me not to think of it!"

"There he goes!" said Bigley, giving the screw a good wrench. "How many
more are there? I see: these two."

He attacked them one after the other, talking the while.

"I wonder you don't know what's in the box," he said. "I thought your
father told you everything--so different to mine, who nev