Part 36 (1/2)
”I don't say nothing, young gents, nothing at all; but that pump's been going long enough now to empty any mine, and yet, if you both go and look at the water, you'll see it's coming as fast as ever and just as clear.”
”Because they haven't got to the bottom of it yet,” said Gwyn.
”It aren't that, young gentleman,” said Dina.s.s, mysteriously. ”Of course it aren't my business, but if the mine belonged to me I should begin to get uncomfortable.”
”Why?” asked Joe.
”Because I should be thinking that the old folks who digged this mine had to come up it in a hurry one day.”
”Why?--because there were bogies and goblins in it?”
”No, sir, because they broke through one day into an underground river; and you can't never pump dry a place like that. But there, I don't know, gentlemen--that's only what I think.”
The man went about his work, over which he was so a.s.siduous that even Hardock could not complain, and the latter soon after encountered the lads.
”Don't say Dina.s.s told us,” whispered Gwyn. ”Sam hates him badly enough as it is. Let him think that it's our own idea.”
”Not got to the bottom of the water yet, then?” said Gwyn.
”No, sir--not yet, not yet,” replied the captain, blandly; ”and it won't come any the quicker for you joking me about it.”
”But aren't you beginning to lose heart?”
”Lose heart? Wouldn't do to lose heart over a mine, sir. No, no; man who digs in the earth for metals mustn't lose heart.”
”But we're not digging, only pumping.”
”But we might begin in one of these galleries nearly any time, sir.
I've been down, and I've seen better stuff than they're getting in some of the mines, I can tell you, sir. But we'd better have the water well under first.”
”But suppose you are never going to get it under?”
”Eh? No, I don't s'pose anything of the kind. It's fresh water, and we must soon bottom it.”
”But suppose it's an underground river, Sam?” said Joe, sharply.
”Underground river, my lad? Then that will be a fine chance for you two. I should be for getting my tackle ready, and going fis.h.i.+ng as soon as the water's low enough. Who knows what you might ketch?”
”Nothing to laugh at, Sam,” said Gwyn, sternly. ”If there should prove to be an underground stream, you'll never pump the mine dry.”
”Never, sir, and I shouldn't like to try; but,” the man continued with a twinkle of the eye, ”the steam-engine will. That's the beauty of these things--they never get tired. Here's the guv'nors.”
Colonel Pendarve came up with the Major, both looking very serious, and evidently troubled by the slow progress over the water.
”Been down the shaft, Hardock?” said the former.
”Yes, sir; just come up.”
”Any better news?” said the Major, quickly.