"I don't see how that can ever be," I replied; and then I felt quite
uncomfortable as I recalled my father being uneasy about old Jonas
watching us that morning. I felt, too, that it would be much worse now
if Jonas got to know that there was a mine upon the estate, and it
seemed as if we were going to be at the beginning of a good deal of
trouble.
"Father went up the Gap after you had gone," said Bigley, "and I saw him
go right up to the place where we blew down the big rock, and when I saw
him go there I went indoors and got his spy-glass and watched him out of
the window."
"I say, you oughtn't to watch people," I said sharply.
"I know that," replied Bigley; "but I was afraid there was going to be a
bother, and I wanted to tell you if there was."
"Well, what did he do?"
"Why, if he didn't seem to make it all out exactly just where we had
been, and he followed down the place where the stone fell, and then went
on down till he came to the rough part where the rock was all bared, and
stooped and looked it all over and over. Oh, he has got eyes, my father
has. I could see as plain as could be through the spy-glass that he
picked up bits of the stone, and once he knelt down and I think he smelt
the stones."
"Smelt them!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, to find out about the gunpowder. He has found it all out, I'm
sure."
"So am I," I said sadly, but without telling Bigley I meant something
else.
"And then he went right down slowly just where the big rock slipped
along, and down to the stream, and washed his hands and came home."
"And did he speak to you about it?"
"No," replied Bigley. "I expected him to say a lot. I didn't mind, for
I should have told him all about it, and I don't think he would have
been very cross with me; but he didn't say a single word about it,
though I saw him shake his fist several times when he was talking to
himself, and soon after he set off to walk in to Barnstaple, and, as I
told you, he hasn't got back."
Just then there was the clattering of hoofs, and I looked up and saw my
father coming down the zigzag road.
"I must go now," I said. "Don't think me unkind, Big, old chap. Or you
stop and I'll come out to you again."
"Yes, do," he said. "I'll go and sit down on the rocks till you come.
Only, mind you do."
I promised that I would and we parted, one going down towards the sea,
the other along the lane, where I met my father looking very hot and
tired; but he seemed in good spirits, so I supposed that he had not met
old Jonas.
"Well, Sep," he cried, "how about the experiment? What luck?"
"Oh, we melted the stones, father, and got out of them a little bit of
lead."
"It was lead, then?" he said eagerly, as we reached the cottage.
"Yes, father, and Doctor Chowne says he thinks there's silver in it as
well."
"You young dog!" cried the doctor, coming out pipe in mouth. "Why, you
are telling all the news, and there'll be nothing left for me to do."
"Only show the stuff," I said.
"Ah, yes; show the result," said the doctor. "But come in, Duncan, the
tea's waiting, and I want a cup myself."
"And I am regularly tired out," cried my father. "Here, Sam, feed the
pony well, for he has worked hard."
Sam, who had heard the pony coming, took the rein and led it off to the
stable, while I followed my father into the little parlour, where the
doctor caught him by the arm.
"Here's the specimen, father," I said; but he did not turn his head, for
the doctor was speaking to him.
"Did you get the deeds?" he said.
"Chowne, you're as good as a witch," cried my father.
"Why?"
"As I came out of the lawyer's office, who should I see but old Jonas
Uggleston coming along the street, and as I went into the hotel I saw
him turn in where I had been."
"But did you get the deeds?" cried the doctor.
"Specimen, Sep?" said my father. "Oh, that's it, is it? Well, it
doesn't look worth all this trouble."
"Duncan, what a man you are!" said Doctor Chowne pettishly. "I've said
twice over, Did you get the deeds?"
"I beg your pardon, Chowne. Yes, of course. He wanted to put me off,
said I'd better let them stop with him, and that there was no hurry, and
that a little endorsing was wanted."
"Oh, of course!" said the doctor.
"But when he saw that I was in earnest, and that I meant to wait for
them, he set to work and got the business done--that is, all that was
wanted. In fact, it was a mere nothing."
"And he wanted to keep them in his charge unsigned, with the chance of
making more of the estate to somebody else if that somebody else turned
up."
"Jonas Uggleston to wit?" said my father.
"Exactly. Duncan, old fellow, you see that you were just in time."
"That's what I felt, Chowne; but there the deeds are safe and sound; the
Gap is thoroughly mine--my freehold."
"And you may congratulate yourself on being the owner of a valuable lead
and silver mine."
"Then you feel sure of that, Chowne?" said my father, who seemed quite
overcome.
"I am certain of it; but of course I can't say what is the quantity."
"Silver?"
"Probably. Lead, certain."
"Then, Sep, my boy--" cried my father excitedly, catching me by the
shoulder.
"Yes, father," I said.
I believe now that my father was going to say something about my growing
up to be a rich man; but he checked himself, and only said quietly:
"Come and sit down to tea."