there was something buried in the sand,
extending over a space of about three feet by two, while elsewhere I
could force the rod down to the depth of over five feet without let or
hindrance.

"Try yourself, Tom," I said hoarsely, as I passed to him the rod, which
he seized eagerly, and thrust down; while trembling with excitement I
cautiously climbed the barrier, beneath which lay the hole, and peered
over the rocks into the valley.

Not a leaf moving--all hot and still in the morning sun; and I returned
to Tom.

"Well?" I said eagerly.

"Well," echoed Tom; "I should think it is well! There _is_ something
buried here, Mas'r Harry, and it ain't rocks, nor stones, nor wood. I
fancy it's a lead coffin, for it feels like it with the point of the
rod."

"Nonsense!" I said impatiently. "There would be no lead coffins here,
Tom."

"We'll see, anyhow, Mas'r Harry," he exclaimed. And seizing a spade he
began to hurl the sand out furiously. "There's a something down here,
that's certain," he panted out between the spadefuls, "but what it is
goodness knows. All I can say is that it's a something."

"Let me come too, Tom," I cried excitedly.

"No, I shan't, Mas'r Harry!" he exclaimed. "There ain't room for both
of us to work at once, and we shall only be tripping one another up.
Let me work a spell, and then you can take a turn."

Tom dug away at a tremendous rate, the wet sand cutting out firmly and
easily, and soon the hole grew deep and wide, when, suddenly resting,
Tom looked up at me.

"Say, Mas'r Harry," he said, just as I leaped down into the hole, "go
and see if there's anybody coming."

"No," I said, looking at him suspiciously; "go you."

"Course I will, Mas'r Harry!" he exclaimed. "But say, what a s'picious
sort of a fellow you do get."

Then, jumping out, he took his turn at inspecting the ravine, peering
cautiously through the creepers that covered the rocks, while I toiled
hard at the spade, throwing up the wet sand.

"Don't throw no more this side, Mas'r Harry," said Tom on his return.
"Pitch it the other way. It's been falling into the water and making it
thick, so as it will go running down and telling everybody as we're at
work in here."

Tom's words made me leap out of the hole.

"Gracious, Tom!" I exclaimed, "what a fool I am!"

"Well, Mas'r Harry," said Tom bluntly, "I did think as you was just now,
over that s'picion o' yourn; but as to throwing the sand into the water,
why