Upon our return home we had a simple meal, all the way back, so many questions had been running through my head and I wanted to ask them well one in particular .

"What made you decide to accept Trencrom's offer?" I wonder.

"When a mans  life is in tatters, he can ill afford to be stubborn." I scoff in amusement of his answer.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day." I reply

"That I'd go to jail."

"That you would play the penitent to avoid it. I nearly fainted from the shock." I bit into an apple

"I played the game. I thought that's what you wanted."

"It is but you never seem to do as I ask and take your own stubborn road. It is never our finances that make me question our marriage as you so claim. It's your stubbornness to do what you should do." I answer "Is there no hope for Wheal Grace?"

"On Saturday, our coal runs out.  The engine will halt and so will this whole dismal venture" he continued to eat as he informed me of the sorry news

"I am sorry for you."

"I'm sorry for a great many things. Our workers, our coffers and most of all  for you." he grumbled

"Whatever for?" I strangle out a laugh.

"For selling our shares in a profitable mine and sinking them into this utter folly. All I can say is this. I'll never again be guilty of such recklessness" he promised. He really shouldn't make them because it's those ones that he can't help but breaking.

"Captain Henshaw to see you sir." Demleza states and I turn my attention to them. For a moment I could see Demelza give a slight hidden smile to the Captain before she left the room.

"Captain Ross, Ma'am. Excuse the intrusion but I'd like you to see something." he dropped a bag on the table.

"What that? The last of our coal?" Ross wondered

"Ha, tin." Captain Henshaw answered as Ross picked up the bag of what held the tin.

"Tin?"

"From that shaft we're sinking below the 60 fathoms. They've been upon it today."  We were informed. Ross took out a sample and glanced over it. I leant forward and took one as well.

"Have you been down? Is there any size to it?"

"Six foot and more across and we don't know how deep." He confirmed

"We've spent 18 months searching for copper  and you expect me to get excited over a parcel of tin!" Ross stressed. I looked over it.

"Who found it?" I questioned

"Ted Carkeek and Paul Daniel" We were informed, Ross hummed.

"And they think they've discovered El Dorado."

"Ross, why don't you go see it for yourself. Maybe you can squeeze something out of that mine for one last wage. What's the harm?" I suggest. Captain Henshaw give me a grateful look. Ross groans but gets up and I copy grabbing some food and putting it into a basket before we go.