CHAPTER VIIL

WILLIZ DIGS AND FINDS WHAT HE DID NOT
BXPECT.

E had been reading to Hector Sir Walter
Scott’s “Antiquary,” in which occurs the
narration of a digging for treasure in ruins not
unlike these, only grander. It was of little conse-
quence to Willie that no treasure had been found
there: the propriety of digging remained the
same; for in a certain spot he had often fancied
that a hollow sound, when he stamped hard, indi-
cated an empty place underneath. I believe myself
that it came from above, and not from beneath; for
although a portion of the vaulted roof of the little
chamber had been broken in, the greater part of it
still remained, and might have caused a reverbera-
tion. The floor was heaped up with fallen stones
and rubbish.

One Wednesday afternoon, instead of going to
Hector, whom he had told not to expect him, he
got a pickaxe and spade, and proceeded to dig in
the trodden heap. At the first blow of the pickaxe