After watching Jim for a few minutes, Ralph pulled off his coat also, and began to assist his employee. It did not look a very promising commencement for a great enterprise. The ground was hard and stony, and Jim's strength was not what it had been, nor what it would be providing he got proper food and plenty of it; while Ralph could scarcely be said to be proficient in the use of pick and shovel. By the end of the third day they had got through the "rubbly ground," as Jim called it, and had struck what seemed a bed of solid rock. Ralph got intensely excited. He had little doubt that this was the lode, the existence of which his father had accidentally discovered. With the point of his pick he searched round for fissures; but the rock was very closely knit, and he had had no experience in rock working. Jim Brewer, as a practical miner, showed much more skill, and when Ralph returned to his home that evening his pockets were full of bits of rock that had been splintered from the lode. "Well, Ralph, what news?" was Ruth's first question when she met him at the door. She was as much excited over the prospecting expedition as he was. "We've struck something," he said eagerly, "but whether it's father's lode or no I'm not certain yet." "But how will you find out?" "I've got a sample in my pocket," he said, with a little laugh. "I'll test it after supper," and he went into his little laboratory and emptied his pockets on the bench. By the time he had washed, and brushed his hair, supper was ready. "And who've you seen to-day?" he said, as he sat down opposite his sister. "Not many people," she said, blushing slightly. "Mr. Tremail called this afternoon." He looked up suddenly with a questioning light in his eyes. Sam's name had scarcely been mentioned for the last two or three weeks, and whether Ruth had accepted him or rejected him was a matter that had ceased to trouble him. In fact, his mind had been so full of other things that there was no place left for the love affairs of Sam Tremail and his sister. "Oh, indeed," he said slowly and hesitatingly; "then I suppose by this time it may be regarded as a settled affair?" "Yes, it is quite settled," she said, and the colour deepened on her neck and face. "Well, he's a good fellow--a very good fellow by all accounts," he said, with a little sigh. "I shall be sorry to lose you. Still, I don't know that you could have done much better." "Oh, but you are not going to lose me yet," she answered, with a bright little laugh, though she did not raise her eyes to meet his. "Well, no. Not for a month or two, I presume. But I have noticed that when men become engaged they get terribly impatient," and he dropped his eyes to his plate again. "Yes, I have heard the same thing," she replied demurely. "But the truth is, I have decided not to get married at all." "You mean----"