“Colonel Pendarve’s going to open the old Ydoll mine.”
“Eh? What?” cried the Major, turning his head sharply. “Say that again.”
“Captain Hardock got talking to me and Gwyn about it, and Gwyn told his father.”
“Told him what?”
“Sam Hardock said he was sure that there was plenty of tin in it, and that it was a pity for it to be there, and when the Colonel might make a fortune out of it.”
“And—and what did Pendarve say?” cried the Major, excitedly.
“Said it was all nonsense, I believe. Then Sam Hardock took me—me and Gwyn—to have a look, and Ydoll went down.”
“Look here, sir, I will not have you call Gwyn Pendarve by that idiotic nickname.”
“No, father. When he was half down the rope came undone, and he went down plash.”
“Killed?” cried the Major, excitedly.