Part 24 (2/2)

”Let's go and try.”

That was enough for Joe, who felt as if he would have given anything for the power to rush out, but seemed held there by his companion's example.

”Go on, then,” he panted out; and Gwyn had taken a couple of steps into the hot vapour, his heart throbbing violently with the great dread of ignorance, when, beyond the mist which was looking light in front of the door at the far end, there was a heavy, quick step. They could see a dark, shadowy figure, which looked of gigantic proportions through the hanging steam, and heard the crackling and crus.h.i.+ng of coal under its feet, as it descended the stone steps into the stoke hole. This was followed by the rattling of an iron bar, quickly used, the rattle and clang of an iron door being thrown open, when a sudden glare of brilliant light turned the cloud of steam from grey to ruddy gold.

”Hullo! there,” shouted a voice, evidently from the door by which the boys had entered; and in an instant there was a rush of feet, the crackling of the coal on the granite steps, and they saw the dark shadow once more, as it darted out through the far door.

At the same instant there were heavy steps going along on the other side of the boilers to the stoke hole, a loud exclamation heard above the hissing and shrieking of the steam. Then came the crackling of the coal dust, the rattle of an iron implement, the furnace was closed with a clang, and the steam between the boys and the far door changed back to grey once more.

The next instant, as they went on, they were face to face with the big bluff engine-driver, who shouted at them.

”Oh! it's you two young gents is it? Well, all I've got to say is that if you're to come here meddling and playing your larks, someone else may tend the bylers, for I won't.”

”We haven't done anything,” cried Gwyn, hotly.

”What!” roared the man, ”when I come and ketched you fooling about with that furnace door! Do you know that you might have made the fire rage away if you got stoking hard, and perhaps blow up the whole place.

There's too much pressure on now.”

”Will you let me speak!” cried Gwyn angrily. ”We came in because something was wrong, and no one near to see to the steam.”

”Yes, there now; I only just went to that clumsy lot at the pump, to see if they meant to start it to-day, because, if they didn't soon, I should have to damp down. Twelve o'clock, they said, and as I told Sam Hardock, there was I ready for them, but I s'pose he means twelve o'clock to-morrow. And when I comes back, I find you young gents playing the fool. D'yer want a big burst?”

”No,” cried Gwyn, who had striven twice to stop the indignant flow of words. ”I tell you we came in because something was wrong--to try and stop--”

”Wrong? Yes, you meddling with the furnace.”

”We did not, I tell you.”

”What? Well, if you young gents can't tell a good slumper, I'm a Dutchman. Why, I heard you at the furnace door, and as soon as I shouted, I hears you both roosh up the steps. Then I came round, and here you are. Better say you didn't leave the door open.”

”I do say so,” shouted Gwyn, who had hard work to make himself heard above the steam.

”Oh, all right, then. You're the governors' sons. Burst the bylers if you like; they aren't mine.”

”Will you listen?” cried Gwyn.

”Why, I am a-listening, aren't I?” cried the man. ”All right, it warn't you, then, and it must ha' been one o' they big Cornish tom-cats.”

”Don't talk like a donkey,” cried Gwyn, who had lost his temper now. ”I tell you we came in because something was wrong.”

”Very,” said the man.

”The steam was hissing horribly, as you hear it now. Aren't you going to try and stop it?”

”Stop it?” said the man. ”What for? Want me to blow the place up?”

<script>