ne, Arthur sat fast.

"Well, why don't you get up?"

"I--I prefer staying here," said Arthur, who looked rather white.

"But you said you would like to fish!" cried Dick in a disappointed
tone.

"Did I? Oh yes, I remember. But I don't wish to fish to-day. You can
go on."

"Oh, all right!" said Dick lightly. "I daresay I can soon get
something;" and he set the line dragging behind.

"Like to be rowed over to yon mine, sir, on the cliff?" said Josh,
nodding in the direction of the old shaft, the scene of his adventures
with Will.

"Where, my man? I can see no remains. Oh yes, I can," he continued, as
he brought his glass to bear on the regular bank-slope formed by the
material that had been dug and blasted out. "I see; that's a very old
place. Yes; I should like to inspect that first."

"Me and him went down it lass week," said Josh, as he tugged at the oar,
Will having now joined him in forcing the boat along.

"It's not a deep one, then," said Mr Temple carelessly.

"Dunno how deep she be," said Josh, "because she's full o' water up to
the adit."

"Oh, there is an adit then?"

"Yes, as was most covered over. She begins up on that level nigh the
cliff top, where you can see the bit o' brown rock with the blackberry
bushes in it, and she comes out down in that creek place there where the
bank's green."

"I see!" said Mr Temple eagerly. "Ah! that must be an old place. When
was it given up?"

"Oh, long before we was born, or our grandfathers, I expect!" said Josh.

"The more reason why I should examine it," said Mr Temple. "I
suppose," he added aloud, "we can land here?"

"Oh yes, while the sea's like this! You couldn't if she was rough. The
rocks would come through her bottom before you knowed where you were."

"Is it going to be rough, did you say?" said Arthur eagerly.

"Yes, some day," said Josh. "Not while the wind's off the shore."

"Taff, Taff! Here! I've got him!" cried Dick excitedly; and his words
had such an effect upon Arthur that he started up and was nearly pitched
overboard; only saving himself by making a snatch at his father, one
hand knocking off Mr Temple's hat, the other seizing his collar.

"You had better practise getting your sea-legs, Master Arthur," said his
father. "There, give me your hand."

Arthur longed to refuse the proffered help, for he knew that both Josh
and Will were smiling; but he felt as if the boat kept running away from
beneath him, and th