Soon he had a very considerable pile lying at the front of the cave.
"Now we'll soon see," he cried.
He hurriedly gathered some dry wood, heaped the black stuff upon it, lighted it, and sat down to wait the issue.

Wild hopes were throbbing at his heart.

He knew enough of the value of coal to realize the importance of the discovery.

If it should prove to be coal, what a splendid thing it would be for Jack and for him! How much they would be able to do for Mrs.French and for his sister Irma! Amid his dreams a new face mingled, a face with saucy brown eyes, but on that face he refused to allow himself the rapture of looking.

He dared not, at least not yet.