"We'll manage it later."

The party turned, old Jason still smiling grimly, the colonel
chuckling, the geologist busy with speculation, and Arch sore and
angry, but wondering what on earth it was that the boy had found
up that ravine. Presently with the geologist he dropped behind the
other two and the latter's frowning brow cleared into a smile at
his lips. He stopped, looking still at the black lump and weighing
it once more in his hand.

"I think I know this coal," he said in a low voice, "and if I'm
right you've got the best and thickest vein of coking coal in
these mountains. It's the Culloden seam. Nobody ever has found it
on this side of the mountain, and it is supposed to have petered
out on the way through. That boy has found the Culloden seam. The
altitude is right, the coal looks and weighs like it, and we can
find it somewhere else under that bench along the mountain. So you
better let the boy alone."

Little Jason stood motionless looking after them. Little Mavis
crept from her hiding-place. Her face showed no pride in Jason's
triumph and few traces of excitement, for she was already schooled
to the quiet acquiescence of mountain women in the rough deeds of
the men. She had seen Jason going up that ravine, she could simply
not help going herself to learn why, she was mystified by what he
had done up there, but she had kept his secret faithfully. Now she
was beginning to understand that the matter was serious, and for
that reason the boy's charge of spying lay heavier on her mind. So
she came slowly and shyly and stood behind him, her eyes dark with