do something different and
better, and that's why we have come. To-morrow I begin to make my new
tempered steel."

Uncle Dick kept his word, and the next morning men were at work
arranging fire-bricks for a little furnace which was duly made, and then
so much blistered steel was laid in a peculiar way with so much iron,
and a certain heat was got up and increased and lowered several times
till Uncle Dick was satisfied. He told me that the colour assumed by
the metal was the test by which he judged whether it was progressing
satisfactorily, and this knowledge could only come by experience.

Everything was progressing most favourably. The men who had been
engaged worked well; we had seen no more of those who had had to vacate
the works, and all was as it should be. In fact our affairs were so
prosperous that to me it seemed great folly for watch to be kept in the
works night after night.

I thought it the greatest nonsense possible one night when I had been
very busy all day, and it had come to my turn, and I told Uncle Jack so.

"Those fellows were a bit cross at having to turn out," I said. "Of
course they were, and they made a fuss. You don't suppose they will
come again?"

"I don't know, Cob," said Uncle Jack quietly.

"But is it likely?" I said pettishly.

"I can't say, my boy--who can? Strange things have been done down in
Arrowfield by foolish workmen before now."

"Oh, yes!" I said; "but that's in the past. It isn't likely that they
will come and annoy us. Besides, there's Piter. He'd soon startle any
one away."

"You think then that there is no occasion for us to watch, Cob?"

"Yes," I cried eagerly, "that's just what I think. We can go to bed and
leave Piter to keep guard. He would soon give the alarm."

"Then you had better go to bed, Cob," said Uncle Jack quietly.

"And of course you won't get up when it comes to your turn."

"No," he said; "certainly not."

"That's right," I cried triumphantly. "I am glad we have got over this
scare."

"Are you?" he said dryly.

"Am I, Uncle Jack! Why, of course I am. All is locked up. I'll go and
unchain Piter, and then we'll go and get a good night's rest."

"Yes," he said; "you may as well unchain Piter."

I ran and set the dog at liberty, and he started off to make the circuit
of the place, while I went back to Uncle Jack, who was lighting the
bull's-eye lantern that we always used when on guard.

"Why, uncle," I said wonderingly;