He led them to the further fence, in which there was a gap, and bade them look down. They saw a heap of greenish rock lying in a deep saucer-shaped hollow between the yard and the river below. A line of rails ran from the mouth of the gallery to the gap, and while the three men stood there a couple of Pathans emerged from the hill, pushing a laden truck before them. On arriving at the fence they tilted up the truck, and the contents fell crashing upon the heap beneath. "Now we’ll go over the bridge and have a look at the miners’ quarters on the other side," said Mr. Appleton. "I have to inspect them frequently: I’m magistrate, sanitary inspector, a regular Jack of all trades." "Why did those two miners look at us so curiously when you were jawing them?" said Lawrence. "I had just told them who you were, my nephews and the new superintendents. You’ve got to earn your living, you know. Bob will be responsible for the Pathans, and you for the Kalmucks. Of course you’ve a lot to learn." "They looked as if they didn’t much like their new bosses," said Bob. "I daresay; but you’ll be a comfort to me. I’m not troubled with nerves, but at times, I confess, I have felt what the old ladies call lonesome for want of a white man to talk to. The Babu is all very well, but now and again he worries me. When I’m tired and bothered he’ll expound a knotty passage of Browning or some other incomprehensible poet; and when I should enjoy a little stimulating conversation, he ’havers,’ as the Scotch say, in a mixture of high falutin’ and outrageous slang. Now that you are here I’ve no doubt he’ll be nothing but the joy I find him in my cheerful moods. I’m very glad of your company, boys." CHAPTER THE FOURTH THE AEROPLANE ARRIVES During the next three weeks the younger Appletons were fully occupied in studying the working of the mine. Dressed in calico overalls they penetrated into the torch-lit galleries and watched the miners at their work. They saw the process of crushing the ore, but Mr. Appleton’s operations went little further, for owing to his distance from civilisation and the limited space at his disposal, he left the final stages of purification to be performed in India. The boys were rather curious to know why the colours of the stains upon the clothing of the two bands of miners differed, but they forbore to question their uncle, guessing that he would tell them all in good time, and would meanwhile be pleased by their showing patience. In this they were right. Mr. Appleton had no wish to keep any secrets from them; he was only waiting until he had learnt something of the characters of the two young fellows, whom he had not seen for several years, and at no time had had many opportunities of studying.