tarpaulin sheetings in front and at the sides,
but behind some glimpse could be caught of the contents. They consisted,
as far as Robert could see, of a number of packets of the same shape,
each about two feet long and six inches high, arranged symmetrically
upon the top of each other. Each packet was surrounded by a covering of
coarse sacking.

"What do you think of that?" asked old McIntyre triumphantly as the load
creaked past.

"Why, father? What do you make of it?"

"I have watched it, Robert--I have watched it every Saturday, and I had
my chance of looking a little deeper into it. You remember the day when
the elm blew down, and the road was blocked until they could saw it in
two. That was on a Saturday, and the waggon came to a stand until they
could clear a way for it. I was there, Robert, and I saw my chance.
I strolled behind the waggon, and I placed my hands upon one of those
packets. They look small, do they not? It would take a strong man to
lift one. They are heavy, Robert, heavy, and hard with the hardness of
metal. I tell you, boy, that that waggon is loaded with gold."

"Gold!"

"With solid bars of gold, Robert. But come into the plantation and we
shall see what becomes of it."

They passed through the lodge gates, behind the waggon, and then
wandered off among the fir-trees until they gained a spot where they
could command a view. The load had halted, not in front of the house,
but at the door of the out-building with the chimney. A staff of
stablemen and footmen were in readiness, who proceeded to swiftly unload
and to carry the packages through the door. It was the first time that
Robert had ever seen any one save the master of the house enter the
laboratory. No sign was seen of him now, however, and in half an hour
the contents had all been safely stored and the waggon had driven
briskly away.

"I cannot understand it, father," said Robert thoughtfully, as they
resumed their walk. "Supposing that your supposition is correct, who
would send him such quantities of gold, and where could it come from?"

"Ha, you have to come to the old man after all!" chuckled his companion.
"I can see the little game. It is clear enough to me. There are two of
them in it, you understand. The other one gets the gold. Never mind how,
but we will hope that there is no harm. Let us suppose, for example,
that they have found a marvellous mine, where you can just shovel it out
like clay from a pit. Well, then, he s