Part 30 (2/2)
”He's all right--if your knots hold,” said Hardock, softly. ”How is it with you, my lad?”
”Out of breath, that's all. I can't look, though, now, Sam. Watch and see if he goes up all right.”
”No need, my lad,” said the man, bitterly. ”We should soon know if he came down. Come, hold up your chin, and show your pluck. There's nothing to mind now. Why, you're all of a tremble.”
”Yes; it isn't that I feel frightened now,” said the boy; ”but all the muscles in my legs and arms are as if they were trembling and jerking.”
”'Nough to make 'em,” growled Hardock. ”Never mind, the rope'll soon be down again--yes, they've got him, and they're letting another down.
I'll soon have you fast and send you up.”
”No, you won't, Sam,” said Gwyn, who was rapidly recovering his balance.
”I haven't forgotten the last knot you made round me.”
”Well, well! I do call that mean,” growled the man. ”You comes and fetches me to help, and I has to chuck my cap away; then you chucks my best knife down after it; and now you chucks that there in my teeth. I do call it a gashly shame.”
”Never mind. I don't want the rope at all,” said Gwyn. ”There, slacken your hold. I'm going to climb up.”
”Nay; better have the rope, my lad.”
”I don't want the rope. I'm tired and hot, but I can climb up.”
”Gwyn!” came at that moment.
”Yes, father.”
”Just sarves you right,” growled Hardock. ”Take some of the gashly conceit out of you, my lad. Now, then, I'm going to tie you up.”
”No; I shall do it myself,” said Gwyn, making a s.n.a.t.c.h at the line lowered down. ”Now, get out of my way.”
”Oh, very well; but don't blame me if you fall.”
”No fear, Sam.”
”Nay, there's no fear, my lad; but I hope we're not going to have no more o' this sort o' thing. There's the pumping stopped and everything out o' gear, but it's always the way when there's boys about. I never could understand what use they were, on'y to get in mischief and upset the work. We sha'n't get much tin out o' Ydoll mine if you two's going to hang about, I know that much. Now, then, the rope aren't safe.”
”Yes, it is,” said Gwyn, who had made a loop and pa.s.sed it over his head and arms. ”I'm not going to swing. I'm going to walk up.”
”Ready, my lad?” cried the Colonel.
”Yes, father; but I'll climb up, please. You can have the rope hauled on as I come.”
”Come on, then,” cried the Colonel.
”Yes, father, coming.”
”Hor, hor!” laughed Hardock, derisively, as he drew back to the full extent of his arms so as to set Gwyn free. ”Up you goes, my lad, led just like a puppy-dog at the end of a string. Mind you don't fall.”
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