ot much profit out of
it at present, because the expenses of starting have been so great; but
it's a very fine thing, my boy."

"Is it going to make you rich, father?"

"I hope so, boy, for your sake. There's plenty of lead, and out of the
lead we are able to get about four per cent of silver."

"Four per cent, father!" I said; "what--interest?"

"No, boy, profit. I mean in every hundred pounds of lead there are four
pounds of pure silver, but of course it costs a good deal to refine."

"And may I go and see it all to-morrow?" I asked.

"To be sure; and I hope, after a year or two, you will be of great use
to me there."

I felt as if I could hardly sleep that night when I went to bed. There
had been so much to see about the place, so much talk to have with old
Sam and Kicksey, that it hardly needed the thought of seeing the mine
next day to keep me awake.

I thought I should never go to sleep, I say; but I awoke at half-past
seven the next morning, feeling as if I had had a thoroughly good
night's rest, and as soon as breakfast was over I started with my father
on a dull soft winter's morning to see the mine.

Bob and Bigley were to come over; but I felt that it would be twelve
o'clock before Bob came, and that I should meet Bigley; so no harm would
be done in the way of breaking faith in the appointment.

We walked sharply across the hill and descended into the Gap, but before
we had gone far we met old Jonas Uggleston.

"Morning!" he said pleasantly. "Morning, squire!" to me. "Seen my
Bigley yet?"

"No."

"Ah! He has gone your way. Tell him I want to see him if he comes."

We said we would, and old Jonas went his way and we ours.

"Why, father," I said, "how civil he has grown!"

"Yes," said my father gravely, "he has; but I would almost rather he had
kept his distance. Don't tell your school-fellow I said that."

"Of course not, father," I said confidently; and we went on to the
mine--the silver mine, and I stood and stared at a part of the valley
that had been inclosed with a stone wall. There were some rough stone
sheds, a stack of oak props, and a rough-looking pump worked by a large
water-wheel, which was set in motion by a trough which brought water
from the side of the hill, where a tiny stream trickled down.

There was one very large heap of rough stone that looked as if barrows
full of broken fragments were always being run along it, and turned over
at the end, for the pieces