Sappers and Miners Part 71

"Don't be stupid. I've spoken to father about Tom Dina.s.s."

The dog growled furiously.

"There, you've set him off. Quiet, sir!" cried Gwyn.

"It's your doing. You worry the dog into barking like that. But look here; father said he did not like to see men idle, and that Dina.s.s had been well punished, and he would consent if the Colonel agreed. So I want you to help me."

"I can't, Jolly, really."

"Yes you can, and you must," said Joe, glancing uneasily towards the door. "For I told him he might come and see the Colonel; and if we ask him, I'm sure he'll give way. Say you'll help me."

"I can't, old man."

"Yes, you can, and will. Let's be forgiving. I told him he might come and see you and talk to you as he did to me, and it's just his time.

Yes; there he is."

For there was a step at the outside, and Joe went quickly to the door.

"Come in, Tom," said Joe.

The man, looking very much tattered and very humble, came in, hat in hand.

"Mornin', sir," he said softly. Then his eyes seemed to lash fire, and with a savage look he threw out his arms, for with one furious growl the dog leaped at him, and fastened upon the roll of cotton neckerchief which was wrapped about his throat.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

TOM DINa.s.s SHOWS HIS TEETH.

Gwyn sprang from his seat, dashed at the dog, and caught him by the collar.

"Grip! Down!" he roared. "Let go--let--go!"

He dragged at the furious beast, while Dina.s.s wrenched himself away.

Then there was a struggle, and Gwyn roared out,--

"Open the door, Joe. Quick! I can't hold him."

The door was flung open, and, with the dog fighting desperately to get free, Gwyn hung on to the collar, pa.s.sed quickly, and dragged the dog after him right out of the office; then swung him round and round, turning himself as on a pivot, let go, and the animal went flying, while, before he could regain his feet, Gwyn had darted inside and banged-to the door, standing against it panting.

"I don't think you need want to come back here, Master Tom Dina.s.s," he cried.

_Bang_!

The dog had dashed himself at the door, and now stood barking furiously till his master ran to the window and opened it.

"Go home, sir!" he roared; but the dog barked and bayed at him, raised his feet to the sill, and would have sprung in, had not Gwyn nearly closed the sash. "Go home, sir!" he shouted again; and after a few more furiously given orders, the dog's anger burned less fiercely. He began to whine as if protesting, and finally, on receiving a blow from a walking cane thrust through the long slit between sash and window-sill, he uttered a piteous yelp, lowered his tail, and went off home.

"Don't seem to take to me somehow, Mr Gwyn, sir," said the man. "The chaps used to set him again' me."

"Are you hurt?"

"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.