d times, till we were all tired of hearing it."

"But I'd forgotten all about it till just now," pleaded Bigley.

"Ah, well," said Bob, who was sitting on the big stone swinging his legs
to and fro, "I don't believe it, and if I did, what then?"

"Why, I thought," said Bigley eagerly, "if we were to put some powder
under that stone, and make a train, and strew some wet powder on a piece
of rag--"

"And light it, and make it fizzle, and then run away," cried Bob,
mimicking Bigley's speech.

"Yes," cried the latter eagerly, "it would topple it over right down
into the glen."

"There's an old stupid for you," said Bob, looking at me. Then turning
to Bigley he said sharply, "Why, I haven't got my pockets full of
powder, have I?"

"N-no," stammered Bigley, who was taken aback by his fierce way.

"And powder don't grow in the furze pops, does it?"

"N-no," faltered Bigley; "but--"

"Here, Sep Duncan," cried Bob, "go and see if any of the rabbits have
got any in their holes. There, get out! I shall go home. What's the
good of fooling about here?"

"But father's got lots of gunpowder in the shed," cried Bigley.

"Eh?" said Bob starting.

"I could go and get a handful. He'd give it me if he was at home, and
he wouldn't mind my fetching some."

"Wouldn't he?" cried Bob, whose sour looks changed to eagerness.
"Hooray, then! Cut off and bring your handkerchief full, and we'll send
the stone sky-high."

"All right," said Bigley eagerly.

"And bring a flint and steel."

"Yes: anything else?"

"No, that'll do."

"But, I say," I ventured to put in, "wouldn't it be dangerous?"

"Dangerous! Ha, ha, ha! Hark at him, Big. Here's Miss Duncan very
much afraid that the powder might go off and pop him. Oh, here's a
game!"

"I'm not afraid," I said; "only I shouldn't like to do anything
dangerous."

"Well, who's going to, stupid?" said Bob importantly. "Think I don't
know what powder is. There, cut off, Big, and see how soon you can get
back. We'll make a hole for the charge, same as they do in the quarry,
and have it ready by the time you come. Run."

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE EXPLOSION.

Bigley wanted no further telling, but started off at full speed
diagonally down the slope, while Bob, who was all animation and good
temper again, seized the iron bar, and began to look out for a suitable
place for the charge.

"Hadn't we better wait and see if he can get the powder?" I ventured to
say.

"Not