yes flashing with excitement.

"My dear Pendarve, I implore you not to do so for that boy's sake,"
cried the Major.

"It is for his sake I am going to venture upon what seems to me a very
safe piece of business."

"No, no; a wild-goose chase, sir."

"Mining is not so reckless as that, if carried out on business
principles, my dear Jollivet."

"There, we shall never agree. But in the name of all that is sensible,
why did you come to me?"

"Partly because you are my oldest friend, and one in whom I should
confide any important business."

"And partly," cried the Major, warmly, "because you thought I should be
weak enough to join you."

"Quite right, all but the question of weakness," said the Colonel.

"Absurd! There, I am obliged to speak plainly; I could never dream of
such a thing."

"I don't want you to dream," said the Colonel, smiling; "I want you to
act--to join me; and upon this basis: I will find the mine, and half the
money for the machinery, if you will find the other half."

"It would be folly. Look at the money we know to have been lost on
mines."

"Yes, in companies, and over very doubtful affairs. In this case we
have the proof of mining having been carried on. We have the mine, and
we should not have to share profits with a number of shareholders."

"Nor losses neither," said the Major, testily.

"Nor the losses neither," assented the Colonel. "Then we live on the
spot and could oversee matters."

"Bah! What do we know about mines? I could manage a regiment, not a
hole underground."

"We could soon learn, my dear boy," said the Colonel; "and it would be
very interesting to have such an occupation. I have felt for years past
that you and I have been wasting time. No occupation whatever, nothing
to do but think about our ailments. It's rusting, Jollivet--it's
rusting out; and I'm sure that if we both worked hard, we should be
healthier and better men."

"Humph! Well, there is something in that. But, no, no, no, I'm not
going to be tempted to spend money that ought some day to come to Joe."

"Oh, I don't mind, father, if it's going to do you good," cried the boy,
eagerly. "I should like for you to have a mine."

"Shall I have any money some day, father?" said Gwyn.

"I suppose so, my boy, what I leave when I die," said the Colonel,
frowning.

"Oh, then, I'll give it to go into the mine, father," cried Gwyn; and
the stern look passed off the Colonel's face. He nodded,