Geoffrey smilingly held the lantern for the old man to see his way, and Prawle looked at him in a puzzled fashion, as if not knowing what to make of his speech. One moment he seemed disposed to resent it; the next he took it in good part, and, as he got outside, after looking suspiciously from one to the other, he said, hastily, as if ashamed of his weakness,-- "I don't want to quarrel, but don't you have nothing to do with this pit. It's a bad un--a bad un, and has ruined scores. Thanky for helping my Bess." The next moment he was gone. "Pleasant style of man, your father-in-law-to-be, Pengelly," said Geoffrey, coolly, as he returned with the miner into the engine-house. "What was he doing here?" "I can't quite make out, sir," said Pengelly, thoughtfully. "He always was fond of hanging about here of a night, as if jealous that any one should notice the place." "Bit of smuggling--hiding-place?" suggested Geoffrey. "I've thought that sometimes, sir, and sometimes I've thought there was another reason. He's a strange old fellow in his ways." "Yes, there's no doubt about that," said Geoffrey. "But what have you got there?" Pengelly had just stooped and picked up a fragment of stone, which glittered as he held it to the lantern. "Bit o' tin, sir, and I was wondering how it come here." Geoffrey took the piece of rough ore and examined it. "Why, it is perfectly fresh," he said. "That fracture has been made quite lately." "Yes," said Pengelly, nodding, "it's quite new, sir. The old man knows more than he'll own to. He's been chipping about here to-night with a hammer; I know, and this is some of his work." They looked about amongst the _debris_, but could find nothing more for some time, till, climbing a little way up the heap of granite scraps that had been evidently dislodged when the machinery was moved, Pengelly uttered an exclamation. "What have you found?" cried Geoffrey, as he saw the miner hold down the light. "It's what I said, sir," exclaimed Pengelly. "Look, sir, he's been chipping and hammering here. Depend upon it the old man knows the mine's rich." "But he wouldn't be chipping the old stones here," said Geoffrey, examining the fragments, which looked as if some one had been hammering up some pieces of ore. "It's some he found and brought in," said Pengelly. "He's a regular old fox, sir, and you see by and by when he finds we are going right, if he don't come to us--to you I mean, sir--and offer to sell what he knows." "And, perhaps, by that time we shall have found it out. Eh, Pengelly?" "We'll try, sir," replied the miner; and then together they had a good look round the place, making plans for the fixing of the necessary machinery, Geoffrey growing more and more satisfied with the earnestness and sagacity of his companion, who seemed to throw himself heart and soul into the work in hand. Then, after appointing to meet in good time the next morning, they made their way back to the cliff and separated.