from out a convenient pocket in his shirt. He made no audible
comment, but stood, his back planted to the two watchers; and Stutter
cleared his throat noisily.

"Th-th-this l-l-lady wants ter s-s-see how we m-m-mine," he explained
in painful embarrassment, "a-an' I th-th-thought I 'd t-take her
d-d-down if you 'd w-work the w-w-windlass a b-bit."

Old Mike turned slowly around and fronted the two, his screwed-up eyes
on the girl, while with great deliberation he drew a match along the
leg of his canvas trousers.

"Onything to oblige ye," he said gruffly. "Always ready to hilp the
ladies--be me sowl, Oi've married three of thim already. An' wus this
Hicks's orthers, Stutter?"

"N-n-no, not exactly," Brown admitted, with evident reluctance. "B-but
ye s-s-see, she's a g-great friend o' B-B-Bill's, an' so I reckon it
'll be all r-right. Don't s-see how n-no harm kin be d-d-done."

The pessimistic Michael slowly blew a cloud of pungent smoke into the
air, sucking hard at his pipe-stem, and laid his rough hands on the
windlass handle.

"None o' my dommed funeral, beggin' yer pardon, miss," he condescended
to mutter in slight apology. "Long as the pay goes on, Oi 'd jist as
soon work on top as down below. H'ist the female into the bucket, ye
overgrown dood!"

Stutter Brown, still nervous from recurring doubts, awkwardly assisted
his vivacious charge to attain safe footing, anxiously bade her hold
firmly to the swaying rope, and stood, carefully steadying the line as
it slowly disappeared, hypnotized still by those marvellous black eyes,
which continued to peer up at him until they vanished within the
darkness. Leaning far over to listen, the young miner heard the bucket
touch bottom, and then, with a quick word of warning to the man
grasping the handle, he swung himself out on the taut rope, and went
swiftly down, hand over hand. Mike, still grumbling huskily to
himself, waited until the windlass ceased vibrating, securely anchored
the handle with a strip of raw-hide, and composedly sat down, his teeth
set firmly on the pipe-stem, his eyes already half closed. It was an
obstinate, mulish old face, seamed and creased, the bright sunlight
rendering more manifest the leather-like skin, the marvellous network
of wrinkles about eyes and mouth. Not being paid for thought, the old
fellow now contented himself with dozing, quite confident of not being
quickly disturbed.

In this he was right. The two were below f