Part 61 (2/2)

”Yes, you are safer there,” said Gwyn. ”Good-morning.”

”One minute, sir, please. Don't go away yet; I want just a word with you.”

”Yes, what is it?” said Gwyn, shortly, while Joe gazed from the man to the depths below, troubled the while by some confused notion that he meant mischief.

”Only just a word or two, Mr Gwyn, sir,” said the man in a humble manner, which accorded badly with his fierce, truculent appearance; and for the moment the lad addressed thought that he meant treachery, and he, Joe, could not help glancing at the precipice so close at hand.

”You see, I'm an unlucky sort of fellow, and somehow make people think wrong things about me. You and me got wrong first time you see me; but I didn't mean no harm, and things got better till the other day over the bit o' fuss about going down.”

”When you behaved like a cur and left us to take our chance. Quiet, Grip?”

”Look at that now!” cried Dina.s.s, appealing to n.o.body--”even him turning again' me. Why, I ought to say as you two young gents went and forsook me down the old pit. Sure as goodness, I thought you both did it as a lark. Why, it warn't in me to do such a thing; and if you'd only waited a few minutes till I'd got my candle right, I'd perhaps ha' been able to save you from being lost. Anyhow I would ha' tried.”

”Do you expect us to believe that you did not sneak back and leave us?”

said Gwyn.

”Well, as young gents, I do hope you will, sir. Why, I'd sooner have cut my head off than do such a thing. Forsake yer! Why I was half mad when I found you'd gone on, and I run and shouted here and there till I was hoa.r.s.e as a crow; and when I found I was reg'lar lost there, I can't tell you what I felt. That's a true word, sir; I never was so scared in my life.”

”Ah, well, perhaps we'd better say no more about it, Dina.s.s.”

”Tom Dina.s.s, sir. Don't speak as if you was out with me, too.”

”We both thought you had left us in the lurch; but if you say you did not, why, we are, bound to believe you.”

”_Bah_!” said Grip, in a growl full of disgust.

”Quiet, sir!”

”Ay, even that dawg don't take to me,” said Dina.s.s, in an ill-used tone.

”But there, I don't care now you young gents believe me.”

”All right; good-morning,” said Gwyn, shortly. ”Come along, Joe.”

”Nay, nay, don't go away like that, Mr Gwyn, you'll think better of me soon, when you aren't so sore about it. For I put it to you, sir, as a gentleman as knows what the mine is, and to you, too, Master Joe Jollivet, you both know--Aren't it a place where a man can lose himself quickly?”

”Well, yes, of course,” said Gwyn.

”Exactly; well, I lost myself same as you did; and because I warn't with you, everybody's again me--Sam Hardock and Harry Vores, and all the men, even the engine tenter; and that aren't the worst of it.”

”What is, then?” said Joe.

”Why this, sir,” said the man, earnestly: ”They've made a bad report of me to the guv'nors just when I was getting on and settling down to a good job in what seems like to be a rich mine with regular work, and I'm under notice to leave.”

”Serve you right for being such a sneak,” said Joe, angrily.

”Oh, Master Joe, you are hard on a man; but you'll try and believe me, sir. I did work hard to find you both.”

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