Kicksey to put the ham in the pan as soon as I see you a-coming."

The result was that we were soon all seated at a capital breakfast and
ready to forget the troubles of the night, only that every now and then
the recollection of the smuggling scene came in like a cloud, and I
could not help seeing that my father was a good deal troubled in his
mind.

Nothing, however, was said, and soon after breakfast the doctor went off
with Bob Chowne.

As soon as we were alone my father began to walk up and down the room in
a very anxious manner, and once or twice he turned towards me as if
about to speak, but he checked himself and went on with his walk.

At last the silence became so irksome that I took upon myself to speak
first.

"Are you going over to the mine, father?" I said.

"Yes, my boy," he replied. "But you had better go and lie down for an
hour or two."

"Oh, no, father," I said. "I'm not tired. Let me go with you."

He nodded, and then stood thoughtful, and tapping the ground with his
foot.

All at once he seemed to have made up his mind.

"Look here, Sep," he said; "you are growing a great fellow now. I've
been helping you all these years; now you must help me."

"Tell me how, father, and I will," I said eagerly.

"I know you will, my boy," he replied, "and I'm going to treat you now
as I would a counsellor. This is a very unfortunate business, my boy."

"What, our seeing the smugglers last night?"

He nodded.

"Did you think, then, like I did, that it was Jonas Uggleston's boat?"

"I did, my boy."

"But it was not, father."

"No, my boy; but--"

"You think Jonas Uggleston knew the boat was coming, and he knows all
about that hiding-place, father?"

"Is that what you have been thinking, Sep?"

"Yes, father."

"And so have I, my lad. Now, though I am, as I may say, still in the
king's service, and I feel it my duty to go and inform the officers of
what I have seen, on the other hand there is a horrible feeling of
self-interest keeps tugging at me, and saying, `mind your own business.
You are bad friends enough with Jonas Uggleston as it is, so let matters
rest for your own sake and for your son's.'"

"Oh, father!" I exclaimed.

"Then this feeling hints to me that I am not sure of anything, and that
I have no business to interfere, and so on. Among other things it seems
to whisper to me that old Jonas will not know, when all the time he
must. Now come, Sep, as a thoughtful boy,