Shall we go and see them ?" "If Bigley likes," I said rather gruffly.
"No, I don't think I want to see any more," he replied.
My father laughed, and went on in front with one candle while I followed with the other, till we reached the foot of the shaft.
"Silver mine sounds better than it looks, eh, my lads!" he said.
We neither of us answered, for it seemed like damping his enterprise.
But he did not heed our silence, for he began to climb slowly up the ladders, and as he reached the first platform, we followed, and then on and on with the water splashing and the pump going, and now and then the creaking sound of the windlass coming down to us as the men over the bucket shaft wound up each heavy load of ore.
"There, I'm going back into my office," said my father.

"You, lads, have had enough mining for to-day.

I shall not want you, Sep." "Don't the open air look clear and fresh ?" I said as soon as we were alone, and I gazed round at the patches of green upon the hills, and the bright sea out at the end of the Gap.
"Yes," said Bigley, with a shiver.

"I shouldn't like to work in a mine.
I say, I suppose your father's getting very rich now, isn't he ?" "I suppose so," I said.
"That's what the people say.

Binnacle Bill says he has got heaps of silver locked up in the strong place below the office under iron doors.
Have you seen it ?" "No," I said; "and I shouldn't think it's true.