CHAPTER XXII.
"RAINBOW IN THE MORNING" That was the year noted for a celestial phenomenon of great interest to astronomers.
We were taking breakfast rather earlier than usual that morning in August, for a party of us had planned to go blackberrying up at the "burnt lots." Three or four years before, forest fires had burned over a large tract up in the great woods to the north of the old Squire's farm.

We had heard that blackberries were very plentiful there that season; and now that haying was over, Addison and I had planned to drive up there with the girls, and Catherine and Thomas Edwards, who wished to go with us.
So far as Addison and I were concerned, the trip was not wholly for blackberries; we had another motive for going--one that we were keeping a profound secret.

One afternoon late in the preceding fall we had gone up there to shoot partridges; and Addison, who was much interested in mineralogy, had come across what he believed to be silver in a ledge.
Every one knows that there is silver in Maine.

Not a few know it to their sorrow; for there is nothing more discouraging than a mine that yields just a little less than enough to pay running expenses.

But to us boys Addison's discovery suggested the possibilities of vast fortunes.
Addison felt very sure that it was silver, but we decided to say nothing to any one until we were certain.