ts springing a mine unknown to
the others, what a position the other three are in!"

"Yes," I said again. "I see it all now."

"You didn't spring a mine upon us, Cob, but you sprang a trap."

I nodded.

"It was a mistake, lad, though it has turned out all right as it
happened, and we have been saved from a terrible danger; but look here,
don't do anything of the kind again."

"Shall you go to the police about this?" I said.

"No, and I'm sure the others will agree with me. We must be our own
police, Cob, and take care of ourselves; but I'm afraid we have rough
times coming."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

PANNELL SAYS NOTHING.

"Better and better!" cried Uncle Dick, waving a letter over his head one
morning after the post had come in. "All we have to do is to work away.
Our steel is winning its way more and more in London, and there is
already a greater demand than we can supply."

"It seems funny too," I said. "I went through Norton's works yesterday
with Mr Tomplin, and saw them making steel, and it seemed almost
exactly your way."

"Yes, Cob," said Uncle Dick, "_almost_. It's that trifling little
difference that does it. It is so small that it is almost
imperceptible; but still it is enough to make our steel worth half as
much again as theirs."

"You didn't show them the difference, did you, Cob?" said Uncle Jack,
laughing.

"Why, how could I?"

"Ah! I forgot; you don't know. But never mind, you'll arrive at years
of discretion some day, Cob, and then you will be trusted with the
secret."

"I consider that he could be trusted now," cried Uncle Dick. "I am
quite willing to show him whenever he likes. We make a fresh batch
to-morrow."

"No," I said; "I don't want to be shown yet. I can wait."

"Is that meant sulkily, or is it manly frankness?" said Uncle Jack
sharply.

"Oh, I'll answer that," replied Uncle Dick--"certainly not sulkily."

"I endorse that," said Uncle Bob; and I gave them both a grateful look.

"He shall learn everything we know," said Dick. "It is his right as his
father's son. If we have not shown him sooner it is on account of his
father's interests, and because we felt that a secret that means
property or nothing is rather a weighty one for a lad of his years to
bear. Well, once more, Cob, you will not mind being left?"

"No," I said, "you will not be away many hours. The men will hardly
know that you have gone, and if they were to turn disagreeable I'm sure
Pan