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 Dinass," 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 petition, 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.

"But you'll think better of it, sir. I'll work hard for you."

"No," said the Colonel; "you had a fair chance here for doing well, and
you failed. The men would be ready to strike if I took you on again."

"Oh, but you've no call to listen to what a lot of men says."

"I am bound to in a certain way, my man. You made yourself universally
unpopular among them, and all that culminated in your sava