THE SECRET IN THE HILL BY BERNARD CAPES LONDON SMITH, ELDER & CO., 15, WATERLOO PLACE 1903 (_all rights reserved_) [DEDICATION.] To MISS PRECISION AND “YOUR AFFECNUT LITTLE FRIEND” _THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED_ WITH DEFERENCE BY ITS AUTHOR AND THEIRS CONTENTS. PART I I. I first see Joshua Pilbrow II. A Great Loss and a Queer Equivalent III. Uncle Jenico IV. My First View of the Hill V. The Story Of The Earthquake VI. Mrs. Puddephatt and Fancy-Maria VII. Mr. Sant VIII. Treasure-Hunting IX. Harry Harrier X. Friends at Last XI. Mischief of Sorts PART II I. The Badger II. The Great Storm III. Open Sesame IV. The Secret in the Hill V. A Reappearance VI. An Odd Compact VII. “Facilis Descensus Averni” VIII. The Feast of Lanterns IX. The Weary Sands X. The Darkest Hour XI. Joshua Speaks XII. Rescue XIII. Rampick Speaks XIV. What the Letter said XV. Out of the Depths Conclusion THE SECRET IN THE HILL. PART I. CHAPTER I. I FIRST SEE JOSHUA PILBROW. When I was a very little boy my mother died. I was too young to feel her loss long, though I missed her badly at first; but the compensation was that it brought my father nearer to me. He was a barrister, a prodigal love of a man, dear bless him! And he felt his bereavement so cruelly that for a time he seemed incapable of rallying from the blow. But presently he plucked up heart, and went, for my sake, to his business again. He was more liked than lucky, I believe. I had evidence enough, at least of the former; for after my mother’s death, not bearing that we should be parted, he carried me with him on the last circuit he was ever to go. Those were the days when Bench and Bar dined well, and sat up late telling tales. Sometimes my father would slip me into his pocket, so to speak, and from its shelter--when, to be candid, I had been much better in bed--I heard fine stories related by the gentlemen who put off gravity with the horsehair they wore all day. They were a merry and irresponsible lot, rather like a strolling company of actors; and, indeed, it was no less their business to play many parts. There were types among them which I came to associate with certain qualities: such as the lean vivacious ones, who ate and drank hungrily, and presently grew incoherent and quarrelsome; such as the rosy bald-headed ones, who always seemed to make most laughter; such as the large, heavy-browed ones, who sulked when they were bettered in argument. But my friend amongst them all, next to my father, was Mr. Quayle, Q.C.