lonel
and the Major."

"What for? What about?" said Gwyn, sharply. "Your character?"

"Nay, sir, I don't want no character. Sam Hardock says the mine's rich,
and I want to stay on. You say the right word to the Colonel, and he'll
keep me on."

"I don't feel as if I could, Dinass," said Gwyn, thoughtfully.

"Not just this minute, sir," said the man, humbly; "but if you think
about it, and how hard it is for a man to lose his bread for a thing
like that, you'll feel different about it. Do try, sir, please. I'm a
useful man, and you'll want me; and I'll never forget it if you do."

"Well," said Gwyn, "I'll think about it; but if I do ask my father, he
may not listen to me."

"Oh, yes, he will, sir; he'd do anything you asked him; and so would
yours, Master Joe. Do, please, gentlemen, and very thankful I'll be."

"Come along, Joe," said Gwyn.

"And you will speak a word for me, sir--both of you?"

"I'll see," said Joe; and with Grip trotting softly behind them, the two
lads hurried off.

"You won't ask for him to stay, Ydoll?" said Joe, earnestly, as soon as
they were out of earshot.

"Why not? Perhaps we're misjudging him after all."

"But I never liked him," said Joe.

"Well I didn't, and I don't; but that's no reason why we should be
unfair. He isn't a pleasant fellow, and nobody seems to take to him; I
believe he is right about all the men being set against him."

"Well, then, it's right for him to go."

"Oh, I say, Jolly, don't be hard and unfair on a fellow. One ought to
stick up for the weaker side. Let's go and see if father's in the
office."

"And you are going to speak for him?"

"Yes; and so are you;" and Gwyn led the way to the new mine buildings
where the carpenters and masons were still busy, passing the shaft where
the pump was steadily at work, but going very slowly, for there was very
little water to keep down.

As the boys approached the doorway they saw Hardock come out and go on
to the mine, while on entering they found the Colonel and the Major
examining a rough statement drawn up by the captain who had just left.

"Well, boys," said Major Jollivet, "have you come in to hear about it?"

"No," said Gwyn, staring; "about what, sir?"

"The venture, my boy. Hardock reports that the mine is very rich in
ore, and that we have entered upon a very good speculation."

"Yes, that is so, Gwyn," said his father; "and we are going to begin
work in real earnest now--I mean, beg