"Did you know he was going to stop with us, Nance?" asked Bernel, as
they groped their way out after due interval.

"I heard father tell mother this morning."

"Where's he to sleep?"

"He's to have my room and I'm coming up into the loft. I shall take the
dark end, and I've put up a curtain across."

"Shoo! We'll hear enough about the mines now," and they crept out behind
a gorse bush, and went off across the common towards the clump of
wind-whipped trees inside which the houses of Little Sark clustered for
companionship and shelter from the south-west gales.




CHAPTER IV

HOW GARD MADE NEW ACQUAINTANCES


Old Tom Hamon gave the new arrival warm greeting, and pointed out such
matters as might interest him as they climbed the steep road which led
up to the plateau and the houses.

"Assay Office, Mr. Gard.... Captain's Office.... Forge.... Sark's Hope
shaft.... Le Pelley shaft--ninety fathoms below sea-level.... Pump