“Yes, a good deal,” said the Major, significantly. “Well, as you have brought me here to see it, you may as well show me the hole.”
By this time the line was all wound up, and the Colonel led the way back to the mine, where, just as they reached the rough stone-wall, Gwyn ran forward and picked up a common memorandum book, which had fallen, to lie half-hidden amongst the heath.
A roughly pointed lead pencil was between the leaves, which opened to show that the owner had been making notes; but that he was not accustomed to the work was evident from the spelling, the first entry reading as follows:—
“Dounter warter 30 fathom.”
The second,—
“Dounter botm 49 fathom an narf.”
The third entry was,—
“Lot warter in thole as mus be pumpt out.”
Then came a series of hieroglyphics which puzzled Gwyn; and, after a long trial, he handed the book to his father, who looked at it for some time, and then shook his head, as he passed it to the Major.
“I’m not scholar enough for this, Jollivet,” he said. “Will you have a try?”