Humph! So you blew down one of the lumps of stone ?" "Yes, father." "Well, why didn't you say so at once ?" he continued tartly, "and not shuffle and shirk.

It was a foolish, monkeyish trick, but I suppose no great harm's done.

What did you do it for ?" "To see the stones rush down, sir," I said.
"Humph! Well, don't do so any more." "I will not, father," I said hastily.
"That's well.

Now we will not say any more about it.

Many stones come down ?" "Yes, father, they swept a bare place down the side of the cliff right to the old rock." "Here, Sep," said my father excitedly, holding out the lump of mineral, "did you pick this up before or after ?" "After, father; where the rock was swept bare." My father looked at me quite excitedly.
"Done breakfast ?" he said sharply.
"Yes, father." "Put on your hat and come with me to the Gap.