enough to burn the rough bricks, which, as we
increased the fire to a furious pitch, seemed to fuse the whole together
into a solid mass.

Then we had our hiding-place to dig out; and all this work had to be
done in such a secret way that it used to make me think of Baron Trenck
in prison, so careful and watchful were we in all we did.

Industry mastered it all though at last; and, weary as Tom must have
been of his job, he began to feel at last that the gold was worth
working for.

"I usen't to think so at one time, Mas'r Harry," he said; "but since
I've been working away here, melting of myself away almost as fast as I
melted gold, it's seemed to me as if, when I get home, and Sally Smith
knows as I'm a gentleman with a large income of two pound a week, she
may be a bit more civil like to me."

"Very likely, Tom," I said smiling.

"That's just what I say, Mas'r Harry--very likely; that is, you know, if
there's anything more left of me than the ivory."

"Ivory, Tom?" I said, wondering what he meant.

"Yes, Mas'r Harry--the bones, you know. Don't you see, I mean if I
ain't melted all away."

Two months, I say, had it taken before the rich metal was all reduced to
neat little bars ready for packing up.

Then we had to discuss the question of the size and material of the
cases in which we were to carry home our treasure so as not to excite
suspicion.

"We must risk suspicion and inquiry too," said my uncle. "Our way now,
Harry, is to get the stuff packed up and go straight away."

"I should do it quite openly," said Lilla quietly, "and if inquiries are
made you can say that the chests in which it is packed contain gold. No
one can be suspicious then. The people will only think that you are
very rich, and be the more respectful."

"You are right, Lilla," said my uncle. "We can show our ingots--I mean
your ingots, Harry. No one can prove how you came by them."

The result was that we boldly ordered some little cases to be made of
the strongest South American oak, and corded together and bound firmly
with hoop-iron; and into these, bedding them neatly with the finest
sawdust, we packed the little shining bars.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

OUR TROUBLESOME BURDEN.

By the time we felt that we might very well make a start for home, we
found out that though Lilla's advice had seemed so good, it would not do
to act upon, and she laughingly owned that she was wrong.

For, feeling the necessity for obtaini