Part 71 (2/2)

”No, I aren't hurt, but I wonder he didn't get it. Puts a man's monkey up and makes him forget whose dorg it is.”

”Look here, Tom Dina.s.s,” said Gwyn, quickly. ”Did you ever forget whose dog he was, and ill-use him?”

”Me, Mr Gwyn, sir? Now is it likely?” protested the man.

”Yes; very likely; he flew at you. Did you hurt him that time when he was found down the man-engine?”

”Why, that's what Mr Joe Jollivet said, sir, ever so long ago, and I telled him I'd sooner have cut off my right-hand. 'Taren't likely as I'd do such a thing to a good young master's dog.”

”Now, no cant, sir, because I don't believe in it. Look here, you'd better go somewhere else and get work.”

”Can't, sir,” said the man, bluntly; ”and as for the dog, if you'll let me come back and tell him it's friends he'll soon get used to me again.

I seem to belong to this mine, and I couldn't be happy nowheres else.

Don't say you won't speak for a poor fellow, Mr Gwyn, sir. You know I always did my work, and I was always ready to row or pull at the net or do anything you young gen'lemen wanted me to do. It's hard; sir--it is hard not to have a good word said for a poor man out o' work. I know I hit at Sam Hardock, but any man would after the way he come at me.”

”We're not going to argue that,” said Gwyn, firmly; ”perhaps there were faults on both sides; but I must say that I think you had better get work somewhere else.”

”No good to try, sir. Some o' the mines aren't paying, and some on 'em's not working at all. Ydoll's in full fettle, and you want more men. Ask the guv'nors to take me on again, sir.”

”Yes, do, Gwyn,” said Joe. ”It must be very hard for a man to want work, and find that no one will give him a job.”

”Hard, sir? That aren't the word for it. Makes a man feel as if he'd like to jump off the cliff, so as to be out of his misery. Do ask 'em, sir, and I'll never forget it. If I did wrong, I've paid dear for it.

But no one can say I didn't work hard to do good to the mine.”

”Well, I'll ask my father when he comes back to the office.”

”Won't you ask him now, sir?”

”I don't know where he is. And as for you, I should advise you not to go near my dog; I don't want to hear that he has bitten you.”

”Oh, he won't bite me, sir, if you tell him not. We shall soon make friends. Do ask soon, and let me stop about to hear, and get out of my misery.”

”You will not have to stop long, Tom Dina.s.s,” said Gwyn, as a step outside was heard--the regular martial tread of the old soldier, who seemed to be so much out of place amongst all the mining business.

”Yes; here comes the Colonel,” said Joe, quickly; and he went and opened the door to admit the stiff, upright, old officer.

”Thank you, Jollivet,” he said. ”Hallo! What does this man want?”

”He has come with his humble pet.i.tion, father, backed up by Joe Jollivet and by me, for him to be taken on again at the mine.”

”No,” said the Colonel, frowning; ”it's impossible, my boy.”

”Beg pardon, sir, don't say that,” said the man.

”I have said it, my man,” said the Colonel, firmly.

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