Thewizardthought，butcouldquotenoone；andhelookedatthesaint，andthesaintathim，andboththeirheartsweretrembling。’Canyoumentiononlyone？’askedthesaint，pointingapieceofthetruecrossathim，hopinghemightclingtoit；’evenalittlechildwilldo；trytothinkofsomeone。’
　　Theearthwasrockingbeneaththeirfeet，andthepalacewindowsdarkenedonthem，withatintofblood，fornowthesaintwascomeinside，hopingtosavethewizard。
　　’IfImusttellthepuretruth，’saidthewizard，lookingupatthearchesofhiswindows，’IcantellofonlyonetowhomIeverhavedonegood。’
　　’Onewilldo；oneisquiteenough；bequickbeforethegroundopens。Thenameofone——andthiscrosswillsaveyou。Layyourthumbontheendofit。’
　　’Nay，thatIcannotdo，greatsaint。Thedevilhavemercyuponme。’
　　Allthiswhilethepalacewassinking，andblacknesscomingoverthem。
　　’Thouhastallbutdoneforthyself，’saidthesaint，withagloryburningroundhishead；’bythatlastinvocation。Yetgiveusthenameoftheone，myfriend，ifonetherebe；itwillsavethee，withthecrossuponthybreast。Alliscrashingroundus；dearbrother，whoisthatone？’
　　’Myownself，’criedthewretchedwizard。
　　’Thenthereisnohelpforthee。’Andwiththatthehonestsaintwentupward，andthewizard，andallhispalace，andeventhecragthatboreit，sanktothebowelsoftheearth；andoverthemwasnothingleftexceptablackbogfringedwithreed，ofthetintofthewizard’swhiskers。Thesaint，however，wasallright，aftersleepingofftheexcitement；andhefoundedachapel，somethreemileswestward；andtherehelieswithhisholyrelicandthitherinafteragescameasweallcomehomeatlastbothmyLorna’sAuntSabina，andherguardianEnsorDoone。
　　WhileyetIdwelleduponthisstrangestory，wonderingifitallweretrue，andwhysuchthingsdonothappennow，amanonhorsebackappearedassuddenlyasifhehadrisenoutoftheearth，ontheothersideofthegreatblackslough。AtfirstIwasalittlescared，mymindbeinginthetuneforwonders；butpresentlythewhitehair，whiterfromtheblacknessofthebogbetweenus，showedmethatitwasUncleReubencometolookforme，thatway。ThenIleftmychairofrock，andwavedmyhatandshoutedtohim，andthesoundofmyvoiceamongthecragsandlonelycornersfrightenedme。
　　OldMasterHuckabackmadenoanswer，butsofarasI
　　couldguessbeckonedmetocometohim。Therewasjustroombetweenthefringeofreedandthebeltofrockaroundit，foramangoingverycarefullytoescapethathorriblepit-hole。AndsoIwentroundtotheotherside，andtherefoundopenspaceenough，withstuntedbushes，andstarvelingtrees，andstragglingtuftsofrushes。
　　’Youfool，youarefrightened，’saidUncleBen，ashelookedatmyfaceaftershakinghands：’Iwantayoungmanofsteadfastcourage，aswellasofstrengthandsilence。AndafterwhatIheardofthebattleatGlenDoone，IthoughtImighttrustyouforcourage。’
　　’Soyoumay，’saidI，’whereverIseemineenemy；butnotwherewitchandwizardbe。’
　　’Tush，greatfool!’criedMasterHuckaback；’theonlywitchorwizardhereistheonethatbewitchethallmen。Nowfastenupmyhorse，JohnRidd，andnottooneartheslough，lad。Ah，wehavechosenourentrancewisely。Twogoodhorsemen，andtheirhorses，cominghithertospyusout，aregoneminingontheirownaccountandtheirlastaccountitisdownthisgoodwizard’sbog-hole。’
　　Withthesewords，UncleReubenclutchedthemaneofhishorseandcamedown，asamandoeswhenhislegsareold；andasImyselfbegintodo，atthistimeofwriting。Iofferedahand，buthewasvexed，andwouldhavenoughttodowithit。
　　’Nowfollowme，stepforstep，’hesaid，whenIhadtetheredhishorsetoatree；’thegroundisnotdeathlikethewizard’shole，butmanypartsaretreacherous，Iknowitwellbythistime。’
　　Withoutanymoreado，heledmeinandoutthemarshyplaces，toagreatroundholeorshaft，bratticedupwithtimber。Ineverhadseenthelikebefore，andwonderedhowtheycouldwantawell，withsomuchwateroneveryside。Aroundthemouthwereafewlittleheapsofstuffunusedtothedaylight；andIthoughtatonceofthetalesIhadheardconcerningminesinCornwall，andthesilvercupatCombe-Martin，senttotheQueenElizabeth。
　　’Wehadatreeacrossit，John，’saidUncleReuben，smilinggrimlyatmysuddenshrinkfromit：’butsomeroguecamespyinghere，justasoneofourmenwentup。
　　Hewasfrightenedhalfoutofhislife，Ibelieve，andneverventuredtocomeagain。Butweputtheblameofthatuponyou。AndIseethatwewerewrong，John。’
　　Herehelookedatmewithkeeneyes，thoughweak。
　　’Youwerealtogetherwrong，’Ianswered。’AmImeanenoughtospyuponanyonedwellingwithus？Andmorethanthat，UncleReuben，itwasmeanofyoutosupposeit。’
　　’Allideasaredifferent，’repliedtheoldmantomyheat，likealittleworn-outrillrunningdownasmithy；’youwithyourstrengthandyouth，andallthat，areinclinedtoberomantic。ItakethingsasI
　　haveknownthem，goingonforseventyyears。Nowwillyoucomeandmeetthewizard，ordoesyourcouragefailyou？’
　　’Mycouragemustbenone，’saidI，’ifIwouldnotgowhereyougo，sir。’
　　Hesaidnomore，butsignedtometoliftaheavywoodencorbwithanironloopacrossit，andsunkinalittlepitofearth，ayardorsofromthemouthoftheshaft。Iraisedit，andbyhisdirectiondroppeditintothethroatoftheshaft，whereithungandshookfromagreatcross-beamlaidattheleveloftheearth。
　　Averystoutthickropewasfastenedtothehandleofthecorb，andranacrossapulleyhangingfromthecentreofthebeam，andthenceoutofsightinthenetherplaces。
　　’Iwillfirstdescend，’hesaid；’yourweightistoogreatforsafety。Whenthebucketcomesupagain，followme，ifyourheartisgood。’
　　Thenhewhistleddown，withaquicksharpnoise，andawhistlefrombelowreplied；andheclombintothevehicle，andtheroperanthroughthepulley，andUncleBenwentmerrilydown，andwasoutofsight，beforeI
　　hadtimetothinkofhim。
　　Nowbeingleftonthebanklikethat，andinfullsightofthegoodlyheaven，Iwrestledhardwithmyfleshandblood，aboutgoingdownintothepit-hole。Andbutforthepaleshameofthething，thatawhite-headedmanshouldadventureso，andgreenyouthdoubtaboutit，nevercouldIhavemadeupmymind；forIdoloveairandheaven。However，atlastupcamethebucket；andwithashortsadprayerIwentintowhatevermighthappen。
　　Myteethwouldchatter，doallIcould；butthestrengthofmyarmswaswithme；andbythemIheldonthegrimyrope，andsoeasedthefootofthecorb，whichthreatenedtogoawayfathomsunderme。OfcourseIshouldstillhavebeensafeenough，beinglikeanegginanegg-cup，toobigtocareforthebottom；
　　stillIwishedthatallshouldbedone，ingoodorder，withoutexcitement。
　　Thescoopingsofthesidegrewblack，andthepatchofskyabovemoreblue，aswithmanythoughtsofLorna，alongwayundergroundIsank。ThenIwasfetchedupatthebottomwithajerkandrattle；andbutforholdingbytheropeso，musthavetumbledover。Twogreattorchesofbale-resinshowedmeallthedarkness，onebeingheldbyUncleBenandtheotherbyashortsquaremanwithafacewhichseemedwell-knowntome。
　　’Hailtotheworldofgold，JohnRidd，’saidMasterHuckaback，smilingintheolddrymanner；’biggercowardnevercamedowntheshaft，nowdidhe，Carfax？’
　　’Theybeallalike，’saidtheshortsquareman，’fusttimeastheydoosit。’
　　’MayIgotoheaven，’Icried，’whichisathingquiteoutofsight’——forIalwayshaveaveinofhumour，toosmalltobefollowedbyanyone——’ifeveragainofmyownaccordIgosofarawayfromit!’UncleBengrinnedlessatthisthanatthewayIknockedmyshiningettingoutofthebucket；andasforMasterCarfax，hewouldnotevendeigntosmile。Andheseemedtolookuponmyentranceasaninterloping。
　　Formypart，Ihadnoughttodo，afterrubbingmybruisedleg，excepttolookaboutme，sofarasthedullnessoflightwouldhelp。AndhereinIseemed，likeamouseinatrap，ablenomorethantoruntoandfro，andknockhimself，andstareatthings。Forherewasalittlechannelgroovedwithpostsoneithersideofit，andendingwithaheapofdarkness，whencethesightcamebackagain；andtherewasascoopedplace，likeafunnel，butpouringonlytodarkness。SoI
　　waitedforsomebodytospeakfirst，notseeingmywaytoanything。’
　　’Youseemtobedisappointed，John，’saidUncleReuben，lookingbluebythelightoftheflambeaux；’didyouexpecttoseetheroofofgold，andthesidesofgold，andthefloorofgold，JohnRidd？’
　　’Ha，ha!’criedMasterCarfax；’Ireckonherdid；nodoubtherdid。’
　　’Youarewrong，’Ireplied；’butIdidexpecttoseesomethingbetterthandirtanddarkness。’
　　’Comeonthen，mylad；andwewillshowyousome-thingbetter。Wewantyourgreatarmonhere，forajobthathasbeatenthewholeofus。’
　　Withthesewords，UncleBenledthewayalonganarrowpassage，roofedwithrockandflooredwithslate-colouredshaleandshingle，andwindinginandout，untilwestoppedatagreatstoneblockorboulder，lyingacrossthefloor，andaslargeasmymother’sbestoakenwardrobe。Besideitwereseveralsledge-hammers，battered，andsomewithbrokenhelves。
　　’Thougreatvillain!’criedUncleBen，givingtheboulderalittlekick；’Ibelievethytimeiscomeatlast。Now，John，giveusasampleofthethingstheytellofthee。Takethebiggestofthemsledge-hammersandcrackthisrogueintwoforus。Wehavetriedathimforafortnight，andheisanutworthcracking。
　　Butwehavenomanwhocanswingthathammer，thoughallintheminehavehandledit。’
　　’Iwilldomyverybest，’saidI，pullingoffmycoatandwaistcoat，asifIweregoingtowrestle；’butI
　　fearhewillprovetootoughforme。’
　　’Ay，thatherwull，’gruntedMasterCarfax；’lack’thaCarnishman，andabegonetoo，notalittlecharpsuchasIbe。TherebenomanoutsideCarnwall，ascancrackthatboolder。’
　　’Blessmyheart，’Ianswered；’butIknowsomethingofyou，myfriend，oratanyrateofyourfamily。Well，I
　　havebeatenmostofyourCornishmen，thoughnotmyplacetotalkofit。Butmind，ifIcrackthisrockforyou，Imusthavesomeofthegoldinsideit。’
　　’Dostthinktoseethegoldcometumblingoutlikethekernelofanut，thouzany？’askedUncleReubenpettishly；’nowwiltthoucrackitorwiltthounot？
　　ForIbelievethoucanstdoit，thoughonlyaladofSomerset。’
　　UncleReubenshowedbysayingthis，andbyhisglanceatCarfax，thathewasproudofhiscounty，andwouldbedisappointedforitifIfailedtocracktheboulder。SoIbeggedhimtostoophistorchalittle，thatImightexaminemysubject。Tomethereappearedtobenothingatallremarkableaboutit，exceptthatitsparkledhereandthere，whentheflashoftheflamefelluponit。Agreatobstinate，oblong，sullenstone；howcoulditbeworththebreaking，exceptformakingroadswith？
　　Nevertheless，Itookupthehammer，andswingingitfarbehindmyhead，fetcheditdown，withallmypower，uponthemiddleoftherock。Theroofaboverangmightily，andtheechowentdowndelvengalleries，sothatalltheminersflockedtoknowwhatmightbedoing。ButMasterCarfaxonlysmiled，althoughtheblowshookhimwherehestood，forbeholdthestonewasstillunbroken，andasfirmasever。ThenIsmoteitagain，withnobetterfortune，andUncleBenlookedvexedandangry，butalltheminersgrinnedwithtriumph。
　　’Thislittletoolistoolight，’Icried；’oneofyougivemeapieceofstrongcord。’
　　ThenItooktwomoreoftheweightiesthammers，andlashedthemfasttothebackofmine，notsoastostrike，buttoburdenthefall。Havingmadethisfirm，andwithroomtograspthehandleofthelargestoneonly——forthehelvesoftheotherswereshorter——I
　　smiledatUncleBen，andwhirledthemightyimplementroundmyhead，justtotrywhetherIcouldmanageit。
　　Uponthattheminersgaveacheer，beinghonestmen，anddesirousofseeingfairplaybetweenthis’shamelessstone’asDanHomercallsitandmewithmyhammerhammering。