Part 35 (2/2)
”Because the shaft's so near. It's a very bad job, though.”
”But look ye here,” said Hardock, laying his hand on Gwyn's shoulder, ”as you have come, tell me this: how should you try to find out whether it was sea-water we were pumping out?”
”Why, by tasting it, of course,” said Gwyn. ”It would be quite salt.”
”Of course!” said Hardock, with a chuckle, ”that's what I did do.”
”And was it salt?” asked Joe.
”No, it warn't. It was fresh, all fresh; only it warn't good enough to make tea.”
”Why?” asked Gwyn.
”'Cause you could taste the copper in it quite strong. We shall get the water out, my lads, in time; but it's a big mine, and goodness knows how far the galleries run. Strikes me that your guv'nors are going to be rich men and--Hullo! What's he been doing there?”
The boys turned, on seeing the direction of the mine captain's gaze, and they saw Tom Dina.s.s's back, as he stood, cap in hand, talking to someone inside the office door--someone proving to be the Colonel.
”Been to ask to be taken on to work at the mine,” said Gwyn.
”But that won't do, my lads,” cried Hardock, excitedly. ”We want to be all friends here, and he belongs to the enemy. They can't take him on!
It would mean trouble, as sure as you're both there. Oh, they wouldn't engage he.”
Hardock said no more, for Dina.s.s had seen them as he turned from the office door, and came toward them at once.
”Are you?” he said to Hardock, without the 'How'; and the captain nodded in a sulky way.
”What do you want here?” he said.
”Just whatever you like, captain. I'm an old hand, and ready for anything. The guv'nors have took me on, and I'm come to work.”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
SAM HARDOCK DISAPPROVES.
_Clank, clank_! and _wash, wash_! The great pump worked and the water came up clear and bright, to rush along the channel cut in the floor of the adit and pour from the end like a feathery waterfall into the sea, the spray being carried like a shower of rain for far enough on a breezy day. But there seemed to be no end to it, and the proprietors began to look anxious.
Still Hardock's face was always cheery.
”Only because she's so big underground, and there's such a lot to get out, you see, my lads. She's right enough. Why, that water's been collecting from perhaps long before I was born. We shall get her dry some day.”
But Dina.s.s, who somehow always seemed to be near when the boys were about the mine, looked solemn, and as soon as Hardock's back was turned he gave Gwyn a significant wink.
”I only hope he's right,” said the man.
”Then you don't know he is?” said Joe, sharply.
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