Sappers and Miners Part 36

"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 fishing 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.

"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?"