Part 6 (1/2)
CHAPTER VIII
IN THE NEW SHAFT
When the mine-surgeon visited his patient that evening he found only Mrs. Trefethen, sitting on the porch and awaiting him, ”her men-folk,”
as she informed him, ”being on the trail of they murderers.”
”Which, if they ain't so many Cainses this night, hit bain't their fault, as I sez to Miss Penny the moment I sees that pore lamb brought into the 'ouse just like 'e was struck down the same as a flower of the field that bloweth where hit listeth; and she sez to me--for me and Miss Penny was wis.h.i.+ng at that blessed minute, like hit were providential--she sez--”
”It is certainly very kind of you to take such an interest in a stranger,” ruthlessly interrupted the doctor; ”but may I inquire how my patient is getting along?”
”You may indeed, sir, and may the good Lord preserve you from a like harm, which hit make my blood boil to think of my pore Mark's hescape, him being what you might call owdacious to that degree. He were telling me has'ow 'One and hall' was everythink that saved 'im, and they rocks pattering same has 'ailstones hall the time. Law, sir!”
”Doubtless, madam, the episode must have been most exciting; but now, if you will allow me to interview the cause of all this trouble, I shall be much obliged.”
”Trouble, doctor, dear! Don't mention the word when hit's 'im 'eld the life of my Tom in 'is two 'ands, and but for they cruel rocks that battered 'is fore'ead would ha' throttled them rascal pushers same as rattan in tarrier's grip; for my man 'olds there was ne'er a fisticuffer like 'im in hall the Jackets. But, doctor! doctor! Oh, drat the man! now 'e'll go hand wake Maister Peril, which I were a-settin' 'ere a pu'pos' to tell 'im lad's asleep.”
Impatient of longer delay, and despairing of obtaining a direct answer to his questions, the doctor had indeed slipped into the house and instinctively made his way up-stairs towards the only room in which a light was burning. He was met outside the door by a warning ”s.h.!.+” from Nelly Trefethen, who had been left on guard by her mother, and together they entered the room where the wounded man lay tossing in restless slumber.
The doctor started at close sight of him, and for a moment refused to believe that the handsome, high-bred face, from which every trace of grime and blood had been carefully removed, was that of the young fellow who, he had declared, could never become a gentleman. Only the evidence of his own handiwork, in shape of the bandages still swathing Peveril's head, served to convince him that this was indeed his patient of the shaft-house.
After a few minutes of observation he left the room, without awakening the sleeper, and gave his directions for the night down-stairs. He also questioned Nelly closely concerning the young man who had so aroused his curiosity, but she could only tell him that the stranger's name was ”Peril,” that he had come to Red Jacket in search of work, had saved her brother's Tom's life, and had in consequence been given a job in the mine.
”But he is evidently a gentleman?” said the doctor.
”Claims to be working-man,” put in Mrs. Trefethen.
”He can be both, can't he, mother?” asked Nelly, somewhat sharply.
”Surely you think father is a gentleman.”
”Not same as him yonder,” replied the older woman, stoutly.
”Well, I don't care what he is or isn't,” answered the girl, with a toss of her pretty head, ”he hasn't shown any sign yet of holding himself above us, and Tom thinks he is just splendid. If he was here he wouldn't hear a word said against him, I know that much.”
”Save us, la.s.s! Who's said aught 'gainst thy young man?”
”He's not my young man, mother, and you know it. Can't a girl stand up for a stranger who saved her brother's life, and who has just been knocked senseless while fighting beside her own father, without being twitted about him?”
”Certainly she can,” replied the doctor, with an admiring glance at the girl's spirited pose and flushed face. ”But have a care, Miss Nelly. There's nothing so dangerous to a girl's peace of mind as an interesting invalid of the opposite s.e.x.”
”Thank you, for nothing, doctor, and you needn't fret one little bit about me. We Red Jacket girls can take care of ourselves without going to any man for advice.”
”Save us, la.s.s, but thee's getting a pert hussy!” cried Mrs.
Trefethen; but the doctor only laughed, and took his departure, promising to call again the next day.
He had hardly gone before Mark Trefethen returned, filled with excitement over certain discoveries he had just made. One was that the car-pushers of the mine had sworn either to force Peveril from it or to kill him. He had also learned that Rothsky, the Bohemian, who had been found wanting when tried in the timber gang, had led the attack of that evening, and had received a broken jaw in consequence. The ident.i.ty of the two car-pushers who were with him at the time having also been discovered, the captain of the mine had promptly discharged all three. Moreover, the Cornish miners had sworn that if either their own leader or his protege were again molested while underground they would drive every foreign car-pusher from the workings.
When Tom came home he confided to his father a belief that Mike Connell had been at the bottom of all the recent deviltry, but, as he confessed that he could not verify his suspicions, Mark Trefethen bade him keep them to himself.
”We'll not take away any man's character, lad,” he said, ”without proof that he deserves to lose it. But if ever I know for certain that Mike Connell had hand in this, lat him have a care o' me. As for yon d.i.c.k Peril, there's no fear but what he can look out for hissel', now that we can warn him of his enemies.”