A long conversation followed, and Captain Corbet began to think that the pot of gold was already invested. The boys took his mineral rod, which he did not give up until he had been for a long time coaxed and entreated they passed it from hand to hand; each one closely inspected it, and balanced it on his finger so as to test the mode in which it worked; each one asked him innumerable questions about it, and gave it a long and solemn trial. “But where is the place?” asked Bart. “Is it very far from here?” Captain Corbet shook his head. “’Tain’t very far off,” said he. “I’ll show you.” “Which way?” asked Tom. The captain waved his rod in the direction of the Academy. “What! That way?” asked Bart. “Are the cellars there?” “Yes.” “You don’t mean those. What! Just behind the Academy?” “Yes.” “It’s the ‘Old French Orchard,’ then,” cried Bart--“the ‘Old French Orchard.’ The only cellars in that direction are under the old French apple trees, on the top of the hill. Is that the place you mean, captain?” “That’s the indentical individool spot,” said Captain Corbet. “The ‘Old French Orchard’!” exclaimed the other boys in surprise; for they had expected to be taken to some more remote and very different place. “Wal,” said Captain Corbet, “that thar place’s a very pecooliar place. You see thar’s a lot o’ cellars jest thar, an then the ole apple trees--they’re somethin. The ole Frenchman, that lived up thar, must hev ben rich.” “The fact is,” exclaimed Bart, “Captain Corbet’s right. The Frenchman that lived on that place must have been rich. For my part, I believe that he was no other than ‘Benedict Bellefontaine, the wealthiest farmer in Grand Pré.’ He buried all his money there, no doubt. This is one of his French sous. Come along, boys; we’ll find that pot of gold.” And with these words they all set out along with Captain Corbet for the “Old French Orchard.” II. _The Old French Orchard.--The French Acadians.--The ruined Houses.--Captain Corbet in the Cellar.--Mysterious Movements.--The Mineral Bod--Where is the Pot of Cold?--Excitement.--Plans, Projects, and Proposals._