Part 22 (1/2)
Peveril's heart leaped at the sound of her voice, and he received two other distinct thrills of delight from her father's incoherent words.
One was when he addressed the slight figure at his side as ”Mary,” and the other was caused by his mention of the Copper Princess. By the first Peveril's recently aroused suspicion concerning the s.e.x of the wearer of that golf costume was reduced to a certainty, while by the other he gained his first clue to the mine of which he was in search.
At the moment, however, these things merely flashed through his mind; for he realized that the present was neither the time nor the place to discuss them. The two helpless ones, so wonderfully intrusted to his care, must be removed at once from the place in which they had suffered so keenly. Both he and the major agreed that it would be best to take them out by way of the shaft, and though they were full of curiosity as to how the Darrells came into their distressing position, both manfully refrained from asking questions until they had escorted them to the entrance. For this forbearance the major deserved even greater credit than his young friend; for as yet he had no knowledge of who the strangers were, nor how it happened that they seemed to know Peveril.
[Ill.u.s.tration: RESCUED FROM THE SHAFT]
Arrived at the shaft, it was decided that the major should ascend first, to prepare those at the top for what was coming, as well as to receive the old man, who would be sent up next. As he adjusted the rope about his body, he whispered to Peveril, who was a.s.sisting him:
”Who are they?”
”Darrells,” was the laconic answer.
”Not old man Darrell of the 'Folly'?”
”Yes.”
”And his daughter?”
”I believe so,” replied the young man, at the same time wondering how the other had discovered so quickly the rightful s.e.x of the apparent lad.
”But how on earth do they happen to know you?”
”They ought to, seeing that the old man has shot at me twice; while Miss Darrell and I have met several times, and on one occasion, at least, she saved my life.”
”Whew! No wonder you greet each other like old friends,” rejoined the major, as he swung off over the black pool and began slowly to ascend the ancient shaft.
When the rope was again lowered it brought some bits of stout cord for which Peveril had asked, and with these he fastened the old man so securely into the loop that there was no possibility of his falling out. Although Ralph Darrell was still highly excited and talked constantly, he readily agreed to every proposition made by his daughter, and offered no objection to going up the shaft.
As he swung out from the platform, and those above began to hoist on the rope, his daughter bent anxiously forward to note his progress.
Apparently unconscious of her own danger, she leaned out farther and farther, until Peveril, fearful lest she should lose her balance and plunge into the pool, reached an arm about her waist and held her.
The girl was so intent upon watching her father that for a moment she paid no attention to this. Then, suddenly becoming conscious of the strong support against which she was leaning, she stepped quickly back to a position of safety.
”I didn't suppose you would think it necessary to take such care of a boy,” she said, with an attempt at dignity.
”I shouldn't,” laughed Peveril; ”but why didn't you tell me yesterday that you were a young lady, and that your name was Mary?”
”I don't remember that you asked me.”
”That's so. It was you who asked all the questions and I who answered them. So now it is my turn.”
”I sha'n't promise to answer, though.”
”Oh, but you must; for there are some things that I am extremely anxious to know. For instance, why do you dress in boy's costume?”
”Because my father wished me to.”
”An excellent reason. Now I want to know if 'Darrell's Folly' and the Copper Princess are one and the same mine?”