'God bless you, Richard; God bless you, my brave boy.'

This, for some reason quite incomprehensible to the boy, caused a lump to
swell in his breast and gave him an altogether uncalled-for inclination
to blubber; but he swallowed it down with an effort, and then his mother
hugged him in that billowy energetic way of hers. After which Harry took
his hand and shook it for quite a long time without speaking a word. The
detective alone was undemonstrative.

'Now,' said he, 'what about this gold? You hid it?'

'Yes. In our shaft.'

'Look here, Master Dick, why have you kept all this so quiet? Why did you
go down that mine in stead of running for help? Come, there is something
at the back of all this; out with it!

Dick's lips closed in a familiar way, and their colourlessness indicated
a stubborn defiance of all argument and persuasion.

'Did you want to steal the gold yourself?'

'No,' cried the boy angrily.

'Then you were afraid of something. By heaven! I have it. You rip! 'twas
you gave warning to Ephraim Shine. You deserve six months.'

'Shame!' murmured Mrs. Hardy.

''Tisn't fair!' expostulated Dick's mother. Dick's lips were closed