thing!"

"Nay, captain, such of us as is left 'll soon build un up again," said
the foreman. "Women and children's safe, and there's stuff enough in
the hillside to pay for all they've done."

"Ah! So there is, my brave fellow," said my father warmly. "You are
teaching me philosophy."

"Am I, captain?" said the man innocently. "Think they'll find the
silver?"

"I'm watching to see," said my father; "I don't know yet. Five minutes
will show. I fear they know where to look."

Bigley was leaning on my shoulder at this time, and he gave me quite a
pinch as his hand closed, but he did not speak; and there was no need,
for I understood his thoughts, poor fellow! And what he must be
feeling.

As the fires at the cottages were beginning to sink, the one the
Frenchmen had lit by the counting-house blazed up more brightly. They
kept feeding it with furniture, joists, and broken planks, about a dozen
men running to and fro tearing out the broken wood-work and clearing the
interior till we could see that everything had been swept away; and then
there was a buzz of excitement by the ruined building while the hammer
and clangour of crowbars could be heard, followed by the tearing up of
more boards; and I knew as well as if I could see that the trap-door
leading to the cellar was being demolished.

"They know where the silver be, captain," said our foreman; and once
more Bigley started and I felt him spasmodically grip my shoulder.

"Yes," said my father between his teeth; "they know where the silver is.
A planned thing, my man--a planned thing."

"None o' us had anything to do with it, captain, I swear," cried the
foreman excitedly. "There wasn't a lad here as would have put 'em up to
where it was hid."

"Hush, man! What are you saying?" cried my father. "As if it were
likely that I should suspect any of the brave fellows who have been
ready to give their lives in the defence of my works."

"But can't we get the rest together, captain, and stop 'em, or cut 'em
off, or sink their boats, or something?"

"No, my lad, I'm afraid we can do nothing more than see them--Ah! They
have found it!" said my father as a loud shout of triumph rang out from
below. "Well, as you say, there's plenty more in the hillside, and we
must set to work again, I suppose, and take warning by this and never
keep a store here."

It was all plain enough. The silver was found, and the little boxes in
which the ingots were packed in sa