first to
right, and then to left. Suddenly he drew a long breath.

"I felt when I got out of the shaft, sir, as if I never dared try to do
it again," he said hastily.

"Indeed!"

"Yes, sir; I wasn't at all brave over it."

"Steady, my lad--steady!" said Josh in a reproving tone. "I think you
did well. P'raps the gentleman would like to go now to Blee Vor."

"Yes, I should," said Mr Temple, "so let's go at once. There is
nothing to be done here."

Josh led the way down the cliff--rather a dangerous road, but one which
seemed easy enough to him, while Arthur shuddered and stopped two or
three times on the way down, as if the descent made him giddy. He was
always well enough, though, to resent any offer of assistance, even into
the boat when it was hauled close up to the rock. Josh would have
lifted him in; Will was ready to lay a back for him and porter him in
like a sack; but the sensitive London boy looked upon these offers of
aid as insulting; and the consequence was that he got on board with one
of his shoes full of water, and a very small piece of skin taken off his
shin.

"Shall we row you on to Blee Vor," said Josh.

Mr Temple nodded in a short business-like way, and taking out his
glass, he began to examine the rock as they went along.

All of a sudden, though, he turned to Dick.

"Go and take that oar," he said sharply; and then to Will--"Come here,
my lad."

Will coloured a little as he gave up his oar to Dick, who began rowing
with a great deal of vigour and a great deal of splash, but with little
effect upon the progress of the boat.

"And so you are spending your spare time hunting for metals, are you, my
lad?" said Mr Temple, gazing sharply at Will.

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

Will hesitated for a moment and then said frankly:

"I want to get on, sir, and make myself independent."

"Capital idea!" said Mr Temple; "but what knowledge have you on the
subject? Have you studied mineralogy?"

"Not from books, sir. Only what the miners about here could teach me."

"But you know a little about these things?"

"Very little, sir; but I'm trying to learn more."

"Ah! that's what we are all trying to do," said Mr Temple quickly.
"That will do. Perhaps we shall see a little more of each other."

He took up his glass once more; and feeling himself to be dismissed,
Will went back to his seat, and would have taken the oar, but Dick
wanted to learn how to row, and would not give it up.

"G