Part 36 (2/2)
”No, sir; it's just about the same. Couldn't be better.”
”Not be better, man! The anxiety is terrible.”
”Oh, no, sir,” said Hardock; ”that's only because you worry yourself over it. Water's been steadily sinking ever since we began to pump.”
”But so slowly--so slowly, man.”
”Yes, sir, but there's the wonder of it. Place is bigger than we expected.”
”Then the water is falling, Hardock?” said the Colonel.
”Yes, sir, steady and sure; and whenever the pump has been stopped, the water hasn't risen, which is the best sign of all.”
”Yes; we must have patience, Jollivet, and wait.”
”Yes, sir,” put in Hardock; ”and if I might make so bold as to speak I wouldn't engage anyone else for the present. When the mine's dry it will be time enough.”
”No; better get recruits while we can,” said the Colonel.
”But you have ideas on paying wages, sir, and I fancy I know the best sort of men we want.”
”Ah, you don't like the man Dina.s.s,” said the Colonel.
”No, sir, I don't; not at all.”
”But you said he worked well and knew his business.”
”Yes, sir; but I don't like him none the more.”
”Petty jealousy, my man, because you did not have a word in the business. Come along, Major, and let's see how the pump's getting on.”
”Jealousy,” grunted Hardock; ”just as if I'd be jealous of a chap like that. What yer laughing at, Mr Gwyn?”
”You, Sam. Why, you're as jealous of Dina.s.s as you can be.”
”Think so, sir? What do you say, Mr Joe Jollivet?”
”Didn't say anything, but I thought so. You're afraid of his taking your place as foreman or captain.”
”Me?” cried the man, indignantly. ”'Fraid of an odd-job sort of a chap, took on like out of charity, being able to take my place? Come, I do like that, Master Joe. What do you think of it, Mr Gwyn?”
”Think Joe Jollivet's right,” said Gwyn, hotly; and Hardock turned upon him angrily,--
”Well, aren't it enough to make me, sir. Here was I out of work through mine after mine being advertised, and none of 'em a bit of good. And what do I do but sit down and puzzle and think out what could be done, till I hit upon Ydoll and went up and examined it, and looked at bits of stuff that I found on the bank and round about the mouth, till I was sure as sure that it was a good thing that had never been properly worked, or they wouldn't have pitched away the good ore they did.
Though what could you expect from people ever so long ago who had no proper machinery to do things with; and the more I work here the more I'm sure of there being heaps of good stuff to be got. Well, what do I do? Talks to you young gents about it, don't I? and then your fathers laugh at it all, and I'm regularly upset till they took the idea up.
Then I set to and got the place in going order, and it's bound to be a very big thing, and all my doing, as you may say; and then up comes Mr Dina.s.s to shove his nose in like the thin edge of a wedge. How would you both like it if it was you?”
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