Part 32 (2/2)
”Er--think I want to steal your guv'nor's pears off the wall, now, don't yer?”
”How do you know we've got pears on our wall?”
”Looked over and see,” said the man, grinning.
”Yes, that's it; you're a regular spy, looking for what you can steal,”
cried Joe. ”Be off!”
”Sha'n't. Much right here, I tell you, as you have. But I like folks to talk about stealing! Who nipped off with my fis.h.i.+ng line and sinker?
You give 'em back to me.”
”No; they're confiscated, same as poachers' nets,” said Gwyn. ”Who sent you here?”
”Sent me here? Sent myself.”
”What for?”
”Wants a job. I'm mining, and I heared you was going to open the old mine. Think your guv'nors'll take me on?”
”You put down that stone before you ask questions,” said Gwyn.
”You shut up your dog's mouth, then. I don't want to kill him, but I aren't going to have him stick his teeth into me.”
”The dog won't hurt you if you don't threaten him. Throw away that stone.”
”There you are, then; but I warn you, if he comes at me, I'll let him have my boot, and if he does get it, he won't have any more head.”
”Quiet, Grip!” said Gwyn, as the man threw away the stone, and the dog whined and said, ”Don't talk to me like that; this fellow isn't to be trusted; make me drive him away.” At least not in words, for the dog spoke with his eyes, which seemed to suggest that this course should be taken.
”Who are you, and where do you come from?” said Gwyn, looking at the man suspiciously.
”Truro. All sorts o' places wherever there's mines open and--work.”
”And you heard that this one was going to be opened?”
”Yes, that's just what I did hear.”
”Then why did you come spying about the place?”
”Never came spying about; only wanted to know how deep she was. I don't like mines as is two hundred fathom deep. Too hot enough, and such a long way up and down. Takes all the steam out of you. Will your guv'nors give me a job?”
”Go to the office and ask them; that's the best way,” said Gwyn, looking at the man suspiciously, as he took off his cap, and began to smooth it round and round.
”Well, p'r'aps that won't be a bad way,” said the fellow. ”But you two won't say anything again' me, will you, 'cause of that row we had when you smugged my line and sinker?”
”I don't think I shall say any more than what happened,” replied Gwyn.
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