communicated with.

"It won't do," said Ned, "to tax the man right out with his villainy.
The miners would say we wanted to get possession of the child to make
money by her."

"But if the child herself admitted that the man was not her relative!"
suggested Captain Bunting.

"Perhaps," returned Ned, "she might at the same time admit that she
didn't like the appearance of the strangers who made such earnest
inquiries about her, and prefer to remain with her present guardian."

"Niver fear," said Larry, in a hoarse whisper; "she'll not say that if I
tell her I know her sister Kate, and can take her to her. Besides,
hasn't she got an Irish heart? an' don't I know the way to touch it?
Jist stay where ye are, both o' ye, an' I'll go behind the scenes. The
niggers are comin' on again, so I'll try; maybe there's nobody there but
herself."

Before they could reply, Larry was gone. In a few minutes he reached
the front seats, and, leaning his back against the wall, as if he were
watching the performers, he gradually edged himself into the dark corner
where the side curtain shut off the orchestra from the public. To his
great satisfaction he found that this was only secured to the wall by
one or two nails, which he easily removed, and then, in the midst of an
uproarious laugh, caused by a joke of the serenaders, he pushed the
curtain aside, and stood before the astonished gaze of Mademoiselle
Nelina, who sat on a chair, with her hands clasped and resting on her
knee. Unfortunately for the success of Larry's enterprise, he also
stood before the curtain-raiser--a broad, sturdy man, in rough miner's
costume--whose back was turned towards him, but whose surprised visage
instantly faced him on hearing the muffled noise caused by his entry.
There was a burly negro also in the place, seated on a small stool, who
looked at him with unqualified astonishment.

"Halloo! wot do _you_ want?" exclaimed the curtain-raiser.

"Eh! tare an' ages!" cried Larry, in amazement. "May I niver! Sure
it's draimin' I am; an' the ghost o' Bill Jones is comed to see me!"

It was, indeed, no other than Bill Jones who stood revealed before him;
but no friendly glance of recognition did his old comrade vouchsafe him.
He continued, after the first look of surprise, to frown steadily on
the intruder.

"You've the advantage o' me, young man," said Bill, in a stern, though
subdued tone, for he feared to disturb the men on the stage; "moreover,
you