Rather a curious declaration for one whose labours had for months been almost herculean, but it did not seem to occur to Geoffrey that it was strange; and, after partaking of his tea, he was about to go in and see Uncle Paul, when there was a step outside, and directly after the girl came in to say that Amos Pengelly wanted to see him. "Show him in, girl," said Geoffrey; and directly after there was a heavy limping step; the miner entered, and, without a word, banged down a great lump of granite quartz upon the table. "There," he cried excitedly, "that's not salt." Geoffrey looked at him wonderingly, took up the piece of granite, which sparkled with black grains in a band of ruddy mineral running through the piece, and turned it over and over by the light. "That didn't come from nowhere else, master," said Pengelly. Still Geoffrey did not reply, but continued to examine the piece of rock, the miner's excitement being so great that he could hardly contain himself. "Where did you get this?" said Geoffrey, at last. "In the four-east drive." "Under the sea?" said Geoffrey, sharply. "Yes, sir." "When?" "Not an hour ago." "You staid down then, Pengelly?" "Yes. Iss, my son. I knew there was good stuff down there somewhere, and I've hit it now." "Have you been searching much, Pengelly?" "Every night, master, since the mine was opened," said Pengelly, proudly, "I felt that my character was at stake. I would find it. I prayed and wrastled that I might find it, master," he cried, with flashing eyes, "and my prayer is heard." "Pengelly," cried Trethick, "there's thirty per cent of metal in that rock--thirty? Perhaps more," he cried excitedly. He caught up his hat, and together they hurried down to the mine, where, in spite of the lateness of the hour, the engine was going, and a stream of water pouring forth, for it needed some effort to keep the galleries dry. Mining garments were soon donned, lamps taken, and, to the surprise of the man in charge of the engine, the manager announced his intention of descending; and, stepping into the cage, Pengelly and he were soon rushing down into the bowels of the earth, to step out at last six hundred feet from the surface, and then thread their way along the dark stone passages of the silent place. For the mine was deserted now for the night, and there was nothing for company but their own shadows thrown grotesquely on the sparkling walls and floor. Pengelly led the way with no little agility, making light of lumps of refuse remaining from the old working of the mine, and even yet not removed, for Geoffrey's venture had been in quite another direction. As they went on, Pengelly pointed here and there to freshly chipped places where he had been, pursuing his investigations without success, and at last he stopped short at the end of the gallery, facing the rock.