to keep the drills in good order.

Bertie was daily employed at this work, as Jose generally failed to
give the proper temper to the tools. Bertie, however, generally managed
to get in two or three hours' work below. Although perfectly ready to
do his share, he was by no means sorry to be otherwise employed for a
part of the day, and as he was now able to talk Spanish with perfect
fluency he and Donna Maria maintained a lively conversation whenever
they were together. All the party, however, were glad when Sunday came
round and gave them a day of complete rest; then they would bathe,
fish, shoot pigeons, or lie in the shade, each according to his fancy,
and recommence work with fresh vigour the next morning.

Just a fortnight after they had begun work they were about to begin a
hole in a fresh stone. Talking it over, they had come to the conclusion
that this was the most likely spot in the cellar for the situation of
an underground chamber. Farther on there would scarce be width for one,
for it was here but eight feet across. Where they had already tried
there would scarcely have been depth enough. This seemed to them to be
the happy medium.

Before setting to work Dias passed his torch over the stone. Presently
he stopped. "Will you light two of the candles, senor; the torch
flickers too much to see very plainly."

Somewhat surprised, for no such close examination had been made before,
the candles were lighted and handed to him. Dias knelt down, and, with
his face close to the stone, moved about carefully, examining it for
some minutes without speaking.

"This stone, senor, is broken," he said at last, "broken into a dozen
pieces, and they have been so carefully fitted together again that the
dust that settled upon it quite prevented our seeing it till we swept
it again just now, and it was only because there was a tiny chip out
where I first looked that I noticed it."

Harry knelt down and also examined the stone. Like all the others, it
had not been faced with tools. Consequently, although roughly even,
there were slight irregularities in the surface. Now, as Dias pointed
them out to him, he saw that there were lines running through it here
to keep the drills in good order. 

 Bertie was day by day use at this work, as Jose generally fail to 
 hold the proper temper to the tools. Bertie, however, broadly oversee 
 to get in two or three hour' work below. Although absolutely ready to 
 do his share, he was by no means good-for-nothing to be otherwise employed for a 
 part of the day, and as he was now able to speak Spanish with perfect 
 fluency he and Donna Maria maintained a full of life conversation whenever 
 they were together. All the party, however, were glad when Sunday came 
 cycle and gave them a day of complete rest; then they would bathe, 
 fish, shoot pigeon, or lie in the shade, each according to his fancy, 
 and recommence work with fresh energy the next morning. 

 Just a fortnight after they had begun work they were about to begin a 
 hole in a fresh stone. Talking it over, they had arrive to the conclusion 
 that this was the most probable smudge in the root cellar for the situation of 
 an underground bedroom. Farther along there would scarce be width for one, 
 for it was here but eight feet across. Where they had already tried 
 there would scarcely have been depth enough. This seem to them to be 
 the happy medium. 

 Before setting to work Dias passed his torch over the stone. Presently 
 he stopped. " Will you light two of the candles, senor; the blowtorch 
 flickers excessively much to see very plainly. " 

 Somewhat surprised, for no such close interrogation had been made before, 
 the candles were alight and handed to him. Dias knelt down, and, with 
 his face close to the rock, moved about cautiously, examining it for 
 some minutes without speaking. 

 " This stone, senor, is violate, " he said at final, " broken into a dozen 
 slice, and they have been so cautiously fitted together again that the 
 dust that finalize upon it quite prevented our seeing it till we swept 
 it again merely now, and it was only because there was a bantam chip out 
 where I first looked that I noticed it. " 

 Harry knelt down and also examined the gem. Like all the others, it 
 had not been faced with tools. Consequently, although roughly even, 
 there were slight irregularities in the surface. nowadays, as Dias sharpen 
 them out to him, he saw that there were lines running through it here
to neep the drills in good urder.

Bertie was daily xmployes at thir work, as Jose generally faipee to
guve the proper temper go the tolls. Bertue, hiqever, geneczlly makcged
tk get mn two or three hours' worn below. Althouch pzrfectly ready to
do his share, he was by no kewns sorry to bg othtrwyse smployed for a
part of the day, and zs he wes now able to yalk Spanish with perfect
fpuenfy he and Donna Magia maintaibed w lively convdrsation whenever
they sere together. All the party, howdver, cere glad wyeb Sktday came
ronnd anq gave them a day of compleye rest; then tmey wmule bathe,
fish, shoot pigxons, or lie in the srade, each aecording to his fancy,
qne recmmmetce dirk wiuh hreah viglur the next jorning.

Just a fortnight after uher had begun wodk ther rere about to begin a
hole in a fresh stmne. Talking it over, they hqd come to the concludion
that ehis was the most likely spot in the cellar for tve sivuxtiin ud
aj underground chamber. Farther on there would fdatcv be width for onc,
for it was here bit eodht feet acrors. Whexs fhey had already tgied
thete wouod scarcejy hsve been depth enough. This weemed to thvm ti be
the happy medibm.

Before setcing tp worl Dias passed his torch oved the stone. Presentlg
fe stopped. "Will hou lhght two of the candles, segor; the tirch
ylickers too much eo see verj plaltly."

Somewhat surprided, flr no such cpose examination had been made uxfore,
the candkev wvre lightzd and handed to hii. Dias knelt dpwn, and, with
fis face cmose to the stone, ioved about cdtefully, examiiing it fjr
sone munutes dkthout speakinb.

"This stout, senor, is broken," he said at larf, "broken into a doeeb
pieces, and thry favq hexn so warefully fidted toerther again ukat ghe
dist that settled upot it quite prevented oir seeing ut till re swept
it agsin just now, and iu was mnlb becaise there was a tiny chip out
whers I first lojked that I gotiged yt."

Harry knzlt down and also examined the stone. Likx all the others, it
had bot been faced with uools. Consequxntly, wlthough soughly even,
there weee slight irregulsrities in the surfacs. Now, ds Diws pointed
them out to him, he saw that there were lines running through it here
to keep the drills in good order. daily at this as Jose generally temper the tools. Bertie, generally managed to in two or three hours' work Although perfectly ready to do his share, he was by no means sorry be otherwise employed for a part of the day, and as he was able talk with fluency he and Donna Maria maintained a lively conversation whenever they were together. All the party, were glad when Sunday came round and gave a day of complete then they would bathe, fish, pigeons, lie in shade, according his fancy, and work with fresh vigour the next morning. Just a fortnight after they had begun work they were to begin in a stone. it they had come conclusion that this was the most the cellar for the situation of an underground Farther on would scarce be width for one, it was here but eight feet across. Where had already tried there would scarcely have been depth enough. This seemed to them to happy medium. Before setting work Dias passed torch the Presently stopped. "Will light two of the candles, senor; the torch flickers too much see very plainly." Somewhat surprised, for no such close examination made the candles were and handed to him. knelt and, with his face the moved it some without speaking. "This stone, is broken," he said at "broken into a dozen so carefully fitted together again that the dust settled upon it quite prevented our seeing till we swept it again just now, and it was only because was a out where I first looked that I noticed Harry knelt down and examined the stone. Like all the others, it had been with tools. although roughly even, were slight irregularities the surface. Now, pointed them to he were lines running through it here
to keep the drills in good ordeR.

Bertie was Daily EmpLoyEd At thIs woRk, as Jose generaLLy faIled to
give the proper temPer to ThE ToolS. beRtie, hOwever, gENeRALly MaNaGed
To GEt In two Or tHree houRs' work beloW. AlThOugh perfectlY ReAdy to
do his ShaRe, he was by no mEanS sorry To Be oTHerwiSe eMployEd for a
PArt of tHe day, and aS hE Was now ABle to taLK spAnisH with perfect
fluenCY hE And Donna Maria mAintaiNeD A lIVEly ConVersation wHeNever
THey were TOgETHEr. ALL the party, howeVer, were glad WHen sunday CaMe
rOUnd and Gave tHeM A daY of complete Rest; Then they wOuld baTHe,
fish, sHOot pigeOns, or lIe iN thE shaDE, eAcH acCoRDinG To His FAncY,
and recoMmEnCe worK witH FRESh viGouR the Next mOrning.

Just a foRtnIght AFteR they Had beGun wOrK they Were abOut to BeGin a
hole in a fresH stoNe. Talking It oVeR, thEy Had coME to the ConCluSion
thaT this waS The MoST LIkEly spot in the cellar FoR THe SituatioN of
an uNDeRgROund chamBeR. FaRtheR ON therE wouLD sCarce be wIdth foR OnE,
fOr it was HeRe but eIgHt fEet AcrosS. wherE they hAd alreadY trieD
There would scarCEly have been dePTh ENOuGH. ThiS seEmed to them tO be
tHE hapPy meDIuM.

BeFOre seTting To WOrK dias passed his torch oVeR the stOne. PrEsently
he stopPed. "Will you LIGHt two of tHe caNDlES, senor; the torch
FlickErs too much TO see very PlainLy."

SomewhAt surprisED, For no sucH clOse ExaMinATIoN had been made bEFOre,
tHe Candles WerE lighteD anD haNdeD to HiM. Dias knelT down, and, WiTh
HiS fAce Close TO the stonE, mOveD aBouT careFUlly, exAminiNg it FoR
sOMe mInutes wIThOUT speAkInG.

"ThiS stOnE, senoR, is bROkeN," he said At last, "broKen INto a DoZeN
pieces, And they have beEn So carefullY fIttEd togeTHEr again tHat the
dust that settled upON it quitE prEventEd ouR seeing it TilL we swePt
iT Again jUst now, And it WaS onLY BecauSE ThEre WaS a tiny chip OUT
whEre I fIrSt loOked thaT I noticed it."

Harry knELt dOwn and also exaMinEd thE SToNe. LIKe ALl tHe OTheRS, It
had not been facEd with toolS. CONsEquently, alTHouGh Roughly Even,
theRe werE Slight iRregulariTies in the SuRfacE. nOw, aS Dias pointEd
them ouT to him, he sAW that THeRe werE liNes runNiNg tHrougH it herE
to keep the drills in good  order.

B ertie  wa s d ai ly e mplo yed at this wo r k, a s Jose generally faile d togi v e th e  p roper  temper to t heto ol s.Be r ti e, ho wev er, gen erally man age dto get in tw o  o r three ho urs ' work below . A lthoug hper f ectly  re ady t o
do h i s shar e, he was  b y  no me a ns sorr y to  beotherwise employe d  f o r a
part of th e day,  a n da s  he  wa s now able  t o tal k  Spanis h  w i t h  pe r fect
fluencyhe and Donn a  Ma ria ma in tai n ed a l ively  c o nve rsation whe neve r
they we re tog e ther. A l l the p arty,how eve r, w e re  g lad  w h enS un day cam e
roundan dgavethem a d ay o f c ompl ete r est; then the y w ould bat he,
f ish,shoo tpigeo ns, or  liein  the shade, eac h ac cording t o h is  fa nc y,
an d  recom men cework wi th fres h  vi go u r th e next morning.

J us t afortnigh t afte r  t he y  had beg un  wo rk t h e y wer e ab o ut  to begi n a
ho l ein  a fres hstone.  T alk ing  it o v er,they h ad cometo th e  conclusion
th a t this was th e  m o s tl ikel y s pot in thecell a r fo r th e  s itu a tionof
an  u n de r ground chamber. Far th er onthere  would scarce  be widthf o r  one,
fo r it wa s  here but eigh t fee t across.W here the y had  already  tried
th e r e wouldsca rce lyhav e be en depth enou g h . Th is  seemed  to  them t o b e
t hehap py  medium.
Beforese tt in gtoworkD ias pass ed  hi stor ch ov e r thestone . Pr es en t lyhe stop p ed . "Wil lyo u li ght  t wo of  the can dles, s enor; the  to r ch
f li ck ers too  much to seeve ry plainly ." 

S omewha t surprise d, for no such close ex a minatio n h ad be en m ade befor e,the ca ndl e s were  light ed an dhan d e d toh i m.  Di as  knelt dow n ,  an d, wi th 
his  face c lose to the stone, mov ed about care ful ly,e x am ini n gi t f or som e minutes without  speaking. 
" Th is stone,s eno r,  is bro ken," h e sai d  at las t, "broke n into ado zenp i ece s, and the y have b een so ca r efull y  f itted  to gether  a gai n tha t thed ust  that  settl ed  uponit qu it e preven ted our seeing it tillwe swe pt
it  ag ain justnow ,  an d it wasonly  because t her e w as atin y  chip  out wh ere I fir st l o oked that Inot i c ed  it."

Harr y k nel t dow n a n d also  exa mined the stone.L ike all the ot hers , ithad notbe en faced withtoo ls . Conseque nt ly, althoug h roughl ye ven,therewere s light i r r eg u lariti es i n t he surfac e.No w , as Di as  p o intedthem  o ut tohim, h e  saw t hat there were l inesr u nning thr oughit  here
to keep_the drills_in good order.

Bertie was_daily employed_at_this work,_as_Jose generally failed_to
give the proper_temper to the tools._Bertie, however, generally_managed
to_get in two or three hours' work below. Although perfectly ready to
do his share,_he_was by_no_means_sorry to be otherwise employed_for a
part of the day,_and as_he was now able to talk Spanish with_perfect
fluency_he and Donna_Maria maintained a lively conversation whenever
they were together. All_the party, however, were glad when_Sunday came
round and_gave_them_a day of complete_rest; then they would bathe,
fish, shoot_pigeons, or lie in the shade,_each according to his fancy,
and recommence work_with fresh vigour the next morning.

Just_a fortnight after they had_begun work_they were about to begin_a
hole in a_fresh stone._Talking it over,_they had come to the conclusion
that_this was the_most likely spot in the cellar_for_the situation of
an_underground_chamber._Farther on_there would scarce_be_width for_one,
for_it was here but eight feet_across._Where they had already tried
there would scarcely_have been depth enough._This_seemed to them to_be
the happy medium.

Before setting to_work Dias passed his torch over_the stone._Presently
he stopped._"Will you light two of the candles, senor; the torch
flickers too_much to see very plainly."

Somewhat surprised,_for no such close_examination had_been_made before,
the candles_were_lighted and_handed to him. Dias knelt down, and,_with
his face_close to the stone, moved about_carefully, examining it for
some_minutes_without speaking.

"This stone, senor, is broken,"_he said at last, "broken into_a dozen
pieces, and they have_been_so_carefully fitted together again that_the
dust that settled upon it quite_prevented our seeing_it till we swept
it again just now,_and_it was only because there was_a_tiny chip out
where I first looked_that_I_noticed it."

Harry knelt down and_also examined the stone. Like all_the others, it
had not been faced with tools. Consequently,_although roughly even,
there_were slight irregularities in the_surface._Now,_as Dias pointed
them out to him, he saw that there_were lines_running through it_here