k, its upper end
will be higher than the level of the water in the river, and if the rock
is compact and free from fissures we shall be perfectly dry however deep
we may sink. How are you off for strong planks? They must be strong to
resist the pressure of the water and gravel."

"I fear that we have no planks of that thickness whatever," Mr Rawlings
said. "We only brought enough timber for the scaffolding over the mine,
and a little for framework if it wanted lining. You see, we did line it
down to the rock. I think we have one balk of nine-inch timber left."

"Let us measure it and see how many two-inch planks it will make."

It was thirty-two feet long. Eight feet was therefore useless for
planks, but would come in for the framework. Twenty-four feet would
make eight planks of a little over two inches thick, nine inches wide,
and twelve-feet long.

"This is less than a fifth of what we require," Ernest Wilton said.
"The shaft is eight feet in diameter, so we shall need some thirty-two
nine-inch planks. However, there are trees about, not very large and
not very high, but big enough to get one or two nine-inch planks
twelve-feet long from each. The first thing to do is to get a supply of
them."

"And you feel quite sure that by lining this portion of the mine with a
drum, as you describe, we shall get over our difficulty with the water?"
Mr Rawlings said.

"Quite sure," Ernest Wilton replied; "providing always that the rock is
solid."

"Then it's as good as done," Seth said emphatically. "You have put us
on the right track, Wilton, and we'll carry it through. I never thought
about the river, and kept on wondering why that darned gravel kept
letting the water through when it was as dry as bones when we drove
through it."

While the preparations were being made and parties scouring the country
for timber the young engineer bent his mind to the task of inventing
some better mode of getting rid of the water than by manual labour--the
mine being sadly deficient in a lot of necessary gear, besides
steam-power, as Ernest Wilton had quickly perceived, although he had
refrained from commenting on the fact.

"You see," said Mr Rawlings, in apology, "I undertook too big an
enterprise with the little capital I had: and, consequently, have been
unable to work it properly. Indeed," he continued confidentially, "if
we don't hit upon a good lead soon I shall have to give up, for my funds
now will hardly suffic