Chapter Sixteen.
Arthur Temple catches his Largest Fish—An odd one—And even then is not at rest.
Mr Temple took a small flat lantern from his pocket, struck a match inside, and lit the lamp, which burned with a clear, bright flame.
“Is the shaft belonging to this open at the top?” he said to Will.
“Yes, sir—quite.”
“Ah! then there’s no foul air. Now, Arthur, come along and you shall see what a mine adit is like.”
“I—er—I’d rather not come this time, papa,” said Arthur in a rather off-hand way; “the knees of my trousers are so wet.”
“Oh! are they?” said Mr Temple quietly. “You will come, I suppose, Dick?”
“Yes, father. May I carry the lamp?”
“Yes; and go first. Slowly, now. Rather hard to get through;” and after a little squeezing the whole party, save Arthur, crept into the low gallery, the light showing the roof and sides to be covered with wet moss of a glittering metallic green.