cut in the floor of
the adit and pour from the end like a feathery waterfall into the sea,
the spray being carried like a shower of rain for far enough on a breezy
day. But there seemed to be no end to it, and the proprietors began to
look anxious.

Still Hardock's face was always cheery.

"Only because she's so big underground, and there's such a lot to get
out, you see, my lads. She's right enough. Why, that water's been
collecting from perhaps long before I was born. We shall get her dry
some day."

But Dinass, who somehow always seemed to be near when the boys were
about the mine, looked solemn, and as soon as Hardock's back was turned
he gave Gwyn a significant wink.

"I only hope he's right," said the man.

"Then you don't know he is?" said Joe, sharply.

"I don't say nothing, young gents, nothing at all; but that pump's been
going long enough now to empty any mine, and yet, if you both go and
look at the water, you'll see it's coming as fast as ever and just as
clear."

"Because they haven't got to the bottom of it yet," said Gwyn.

"It aren't that, young gentleman," said Dinass, mysteriously. "Of
course it aren't my business, but if the mine belonged to me I should
begin to get uncomfortable."

"Why?" asked Joe.

"Because I should be thinking that the old folks who digged this mine
had to come up it in a hurry one day."

"Why?--because there were bogies and goblins in it?"

"No, sir, because they broke through one day into an underground river;
and you can't never pump dry a place like that. But there, I don't
know, gentlemen--that's only what I think."

The man went about his work, over which he was so assiduous that even
Hardock could not complain, and the latter soon after encountered the
lads.

"Don't say Dinass told us," whispered Gwyn. "Sam hates him badly enough
as it is. Let him think that it's our own idea."

"Not got to the bottom of the water yet, then?" said Gwyn.

"No, sir--not yet, not yet," replied the captain, blandly; "and it won't
come any the quicker for you joking me about it."

"But aren't you beginning to lose heart?"

"Lose heart? Wouldn't do to lose heart over a mine, sir. No, no; man
who digs in the earth for metals mustn't lose heart."

"But we're not digging, only pumping."

"But we might begin in one of these galleries nearly any time, sir.
I've been down, and I've seen better stuff than they're getting in some
of the mines, I can tell you, sir. B