quarterly dividend (if any) is paid. There
is a matter-of-fact and Spartan-like air about this feast which commands
respect. The room in which it is held is uncarpeted, and its walls are
graced by no higher works of art than the plans and sections of the
mine. The food is excellent and substantial, but simple. There is
abundance of it, but there are no courses--either preliminary or
successive--no soup or fish to annoy one who wants meat; no ridiculous
_entremets_ to tantalise one who wants something solid; no puddings,
pies, or tarts to tempt men to gluttony. All set to work at the same
time, and enjoy their meal _together_, which is more than can be said of
most dinners. All is grandly simple, like the celebrated mine on which
the whole is founded.

But there is one luxury at this feast which it would be unpardonable not
to mention--namely the punch. Whoever tastes this beverage can never
forget it! Description were useless to convey an idea of it.
Imagination were impotent to form a conception of it. Taste alone will
avail, so that our readers must either go to Cornwall to drink it, or
for ever remain unsatisfied. We can only remark, in reference to it,
that it is potent as well as pleasant, and that it is also dangerous,
being of an insinuating nature, so that those who partake freely have a
tendency to wish for more, and are apt to dream (not unreasonably, but
too wildly) of Botallack tin being transformed into silver and gold.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

DETAILS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A DEED OF HEROISM.

To work went Maggot and Trevarrow and Zackey on their new pitch next day
like true Britons. Indeed, we question whether true Britons of the
ancient time ever did go to work with half the energy or perseverance of
the men of the present day. Those men of old were mere grubbers on the
surface. They knew nothing of deep levels under the ocean. However, to
do them justice, they made wonderfully extensive tunnels in mother
earth, with implements much inferior to those now in use.

But, be that as it may, our trio went to work "with a will." Maggot was
keen to get up as much of the rich mineral as possible during the
month--knowing that he would not get the place next month on such good
terms. Trevarrow, besides having no objections to make money when he
could for its own sake, was anxious to have a little to spare to James
Penrose, whose large family found it pinching work to subsist on the
poor fello