nel, delivered by Gwyn, and the man rubbed his hands
gleefully.

"I thought he couldn't refuse such a chance," cried Hardock. "It's a
big fortune for him."

"I hope so," said Gwyn. "But how came those people at Plymouth to hear
about it?"

"I dunno, sir. But they got hold of the gashly news somehow."

"You did not send them word, of course?"

"Me? Not I, sir."

"But how could that man have heard of it, and come over to sound the
mine and examine the place?"

"What man?" cried Hardock, anxiously.

Gwyn explained, and, in answer to questions, the lad gave a pretty good
description of his awkward adversary.

Hardock struck his fist upon the table.

"That's the chap! I often wondered who he was. Been hanging about here
these two months past."

"Then you did tell him."

"Me, Master Gwyn? Not a bit of it. I'm too close."

"Then you must have talked about it to other people, and he picked up
what you said. But there, come along. He will not get it now."

"He must have been sent by someone out Plymouth way, that's for certain,
sir. But come along. I want to hear what the Colonel has to say."

"And the Major, too."

"Why, he's not in it, sir, is he?"

"Of course. He will be my father's partner."

Hardock whistled, and was very silent all the way up to the house by
Ydoll Cove.

He was talkative enough, though, when he came away, but in a very
mysterious fashion.

"It's all right, Mr Gwyn," he whispered. "Going to be a very big
thing. I mustn't talk about it; but you're like one of us, and I may
tell you. I'm off to Truro this afternoon to talk to an old friend of
mine--engineer, and a very big man on working mines. He'll advise on
the best kind of pump to have."

The engineer came, examined the shaft, gave his opinions, and in a
week's time masons were at work setting up an engine-house, ready for
the steam machinery that was to come round by ship from Liverpool; and
in a short time the wild slope at the top of the great cliffs was
invaded by quite a colony of workmen. The masons' hammers were
constantly chipping as they laboriously went on building and raising a
platform above the mouth of the shaft, while, whenever a few rich pieces
of ore, after possibly lying there many hundred years, were turned up,
they were solemnly conveyed to the two old officers for examination.

Here the two boys were soon in their element, and began working away
with a great deal of enthusiasm in a small