It was lying on the slope, I suppose ?" "Well, ye-es, father." "Humph, strange!" he muttered.

"There can't be any metals there.
Somebody must have dropped it." I hesitated.

I wanted to speak out, but I was afraid, for I did not know what he would say if he heard that we had blown up one of the rocks with gunpowder, and sent all those stones hurtling down the side of the cliff.
"Yes," continued my father, "somebody must have dropped it.

A good specimen--a very good specimen indeed." Just then he raised his eyes, and caught me gazing at him wistfully.
"Hallo!" he said, "what does that mean?
Why are you looking so serious and strange ?" "Was I, father ?" "Yes, sir: of course you were.

No nonsense.