nd
unscrupulous enemy, and made up his mind that he must be constantly on
his guard against him. He did not tell anybody of this startling
incident of his first day's experience in the mine for a long time
afterwards; as, upon thinking it over, he realized that the peril, which
he had so happily escaped might readily be charged to his own
carelessness.

At lunch time he let Harry Mule make his own way back to the mine stable
for oats and water. He had been told by the mine boss that the knowing
animal would not only do this, but would afterwards return to his place
of duty when started towards it by one of the stable-boys. While the
mule was gone, his young driver went into the blacksmith's shop to eat
his own lunch in company with Job Taskar, who had invited him to do so.
Job questioned Derrick closely as to his acquaintance among the men and
boys of the colliery, and asked particularly in regard to his likings or
dislikings of the several overseers.

"I hear thee's a great friend o' t' mine boss," said Job.

"Not at all," answered Derrick. "Mr. Jones was a friend of my father's,
but I hardly know him."

"All says thee's boss's favorite."

"I'm sure I don't know why they should. Of course it was good of him to
give me a job; but he had to get somebody to drive the mule. It doesn't
seem to me that I've got any easier place than anybody else."

Here Derrick put one hand up to his badly aching head, which had been
bruised by a flying chunk from Monk Tooley's blast.

Noting the movement, Job asked what was the matter, for although he had
heard about the blast from Monk Tooley, he wanted to learn what the boy
thought of it.

"I got hit by a falling chunk," replied Derrick, guardedly.

"Humph!" growled Job; "better keep clear o' they chunks. One on 'em
might hit ye once too often some time."

Job held no more conversation with the boy, but lighted his pipe, and
sat at one side of the forge, scowling and smoking. Derrick also kept
silence, as he sat on the opposite side of the forge, rubbing his aching
head with a grimy hand.

While they sat thus, several miners dropped in for a smoke and a chat.
They all looked curiously at Derrick, but none of them spoke to him.
Thus neglected, he felt very unhappy and uncomfortable, and was glad
when the jingling of Harry Mule's harness outside gave notice that it
was again time to go to work.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and monotonously, for, with the
exceptio