"Better now, sir, and she told me all about it, and how brave you had been. God bless her! she spoke kinder to me than she had ever spoke before." "I'm glad she was not much hurt, Pengelly. Poor weak-minded fools, what a charge to get up against her! But come, pass that over. I've news for you, Pengelly. I'm going to pump out Wheal Carnac." "You are?" cried Pengelly, joyfully. "I am." "Then your fortune's made." "Is it?" said Geoffrey, laughing. "Well, my lad, can you leave your present work for a week or two, and come and help me a little?" "If you'll have me to help you, Mr Trethick, there's no work in the world shall keep me back; and, what's more, I swear to you that I'll never leave you till Wheal Carnac's the greatest paying mine in West Cornwall." "Come, that's cheering, Pengelly," said Geoffrey, laughing. "Why, you are more sanguine than ever." "Sanguine, sir? No, it's sureness, that's what my feeling is;" and, sitting down at Geoffrey's request, he was soon going into business-matters with him--where to obtain temporary pumping gear, chain and buckets, wheels, and the like, their planning taking so long that it was past nine when Pengelly rose to go. "I should like to stretch my legs too, Pengelly," said Geoffrey. "I'll walk down with you. What do you say to getting a lantern, and having a look round the place to-night?" "I can get a lantern," cried Pengelly, eagerly; and they went out together, meeting Madge just outside the gate, and she hurried by them with bended head, but Geoffrey hardly noticed her, being intent upon his mission. A lantern was obtained, and matches, and they were soon down upon the shore, climbing along the rough path towards the promontory upon which, just dimly seen against the sky-line, stood out the dark, weird-looking engine-house. The foam that broke upon the rocks at the promontory's base was all aglow now with phosphorescent light, which rose and fell, and flashed with a wondrous brilliancy. "Poor night for the fisher lads, sir," said Pengelly. "Indeed! why?" "Their nets will be all a-light with the brime, sir, and every thread will stand out in the deep water, as if afire, and not a fish will go near." They clambered on, higher and higher, till they reached the engine-house, into which they proposed to go, and there light the lantern. "If they see us from the harbour, what will they think?" said Geoffrey. "That we are ghosts or demons, the weak creatures," cried Pengelly, scornfully. "It will keep them away: not a man will come near if they see our light. Keep this way, sir, you are getting too near the shaft." Geoffrey hastily altered his position, and closely following Pengelly he entered the great engine-house behind him, and then stood waiting while the lame miner struck a match, which blazed up, and then he dropped it, for there, plainly seen in the momentary glare, stood a dark, strange-looking figure, within a few feet of a heap of stones.