dness, all being intent upon
the object of their quest, which they soon after came upon in the upper
part of a deep gully, on one side of which there was a rough
quadrangular wall of piled-up stones, looking like the foundations of a
hut which had fallen to ruin; and here they paused.

"Now, look here," said the man; "that place don't look anything; but
your father, young Pendarve, has got a fortune in it, and I want to see
what it's like. So what do you say to going down with my hammer and
bringing up a few chips?"

"Why don't you go?" said Gwyn.

"'Cause you two couldn't pull me up again. It's a job for a boy."

"Then let's send down Joe Jollivet. He isn't worth much if we lose
him."

"Oh, I say," began the boy in dismay; but he read the twinkle in his
companion's eye, and laughed.

"I wouldn't mind going down. Is the rope strong?"

"Strong?" said the mining captain. "Think I should have brought it if
it warn't? Hold a schooner."

"Shall I go down, Gwyn?"

The lad addressed did not answer for a few moments, but stood leaning
over the rocky wall, gazing down into a square pit cut through the
stone, the wall having been placed there for protection in case four or
two-legged creatures passed that way.

"But look here," said Joe; "would it be safe?"

"Safe, lad? Do you think I'd let you go if it warn't? How could I face
all your fathers and mothers after?"

"But are you sure you could hold me if I went," said Joe, who began to
look anxious.

"Feel here," said the man, rolling up his sleeves. "There's muscle!
There's bone! That's something like a man's arm, aren't it? Hold you?
Half-a-dozen on you. Man either."

Joe drew a deep sigh.

"I'll go," he said.

"No, you won't," cried Gwyn, fiercely. "It's my father's place, and I
ought to go."

"But I wouldn't mind, Ydoll," said Joe, excitedly.

"I know that, but I'll go first, and you help Sam Hardock."

"Ay, you help me, my lad. I know'd he'd have the pluck to go down."

"You're sure of the rope, Sam?"

"Sure? There, don't you go down if you're afraid."

"Who feels afraid?" cried Gwyn, hotly. "There, how's it to be? Throw
the rope down and slide?"

"No, no," growled the man.

"Loop and sit in it?"

"Nay; I'm too fearful over you, my lad. But do you mean it?"

"Mean it? Yes, of course," said the boy, flushing.

"Then, here you have it. I just make a knot like this about your
chesty, so as it don't grow tight and can't sli