d; and it's just like the Major. Just because his
wounds come out bad sometimes, he thinks he has a right to say what he
likes. I believe he said my father was a fool."

"That he didn't," cried Joe, sharply; "he said he'd be a fool, if he put
any money in a mine."

"There, I knew it, and it's regularly insulting," cried Gwyn, with his
face flushing and eyes sparkling. "I shall just go and tell Major
Jollivet that my father--"

"Oh, I say, what a chap you are!" cried Joe, wrinkling up his rather
plump face. "You're never happy without you're making a row about
something. Why don't you punch my head?"

"I would for two pins."

"There, that's more like you. What have I done? I didn't say it."

"No, but your father did, and it's all the same."

"Oh! is it? I don't see that. I couldn't help it."

"Yes, you could. It all came of your chattering. See if I go fishing
with you again!"

"Go it!"

"I mean to; and I shall walk straight up to Cam Maen, and tell the Major
what I think of him. I won't have my father called a fool by a jolly
old foot-soldier, and so I'll tell him."

"Yes, do," said Joe. "He's got a touch of fever this morning, and can't
help himself; so now's your chance. But if you do go and worry him,
you've got to have it out with me afterwards, and so I tell you."

"Oh, have I? You want me to give you another good licking?"

"I don't care if you do. I won't stand still and have my father bullied
by old Ydoll, Gwyn."

Gwyn turned upon him fiercely, but the sight of his companion's face
calmed his anger on the instant.

"It's all right, Joe," he said; "I like to hear anyone sticking up for
his father or his mother."

"I haven't got a mother to stick up for; but my father's ill and weak,
and if you--"

"Don't I keep on telling you I'm not going, you stupid old
Jolly-wet-'un. Come on. Didn't we two say, after the last fight, when
we shook hands, that we would never fight again?"

"Yes; then why do you begin it?"

"Who's beginning it? Get out, and let's go and have a look at the mine.
Let's stick to what we said: fight any of the fisher-lads, and help one
another. Now, then, let's go on to the old mine, and see if we can get
down. Pst! here's Hardock."

For at the corner of the stone-walled lane, whose left side skirted the
Colonel's property, which extended for half-a-mile along by the sea, the
estate having been bought a bargain for the simple reason that its many
acres