. That's what's the matter! Jehosophat! it is
queer, streenger!"

"I'm sure I ought to feel greatly honoured at such an imposing
reception," said Ernest, still rather perplexed at the ovation, which
seemed unaccountable to him. "It is not such a very uncommon thing for
an engineer to be travelling through these regions, is it now?
especially when you consider that it has been mainly through the
exertions of men of my craft, and the railways that they have planned,
following in their wake, that the country has been opened up at all. I
should have thought engineers almost as common nowadays out west as
blackberries in old England."

"You are right there," said Mr Rawlins's, hastening to explain the
circumstances that had caused his arrival to be looked upon as such a
piece of good fortune, quite apart from the friendly feelings with which
they regarded him as a forlorn stranger whom they were glad to welcome
to their camp. "But, you see, your coming, as Seth Allport has just
remarked, has been almost coincident with a loss, or rather want, which
we just begin to feel in our mining operations here. Your arrival has
happened just in the nick of time, when we are nearly at a standstill
through the want of a competent superintending engineer, like yourself,
experienced in mines and mining work. Hands we have in plenty--willing
and able hands, too," added Mr Rawlings, with an approving glance round
at the assembled miners, who acknowledged the compliment with a hearty
cheer for himself and Seth Allport;--"but we want a head to suggest how
our efforts can be best directed, and our gear utilised, towards
carrying out the object we all have in view. I and Seth have done our
best; but, what with the overflow of water in the mine, and the
necessity we think there is now for running out side cuttings from the
main shaft, so as to strike the lode properly, we were fairly at our
wits' end."

"I see," said Ernest Wilton musingly, "I see."

"An' if yer like to join us in that air capacity," interposed Seth,
thinking that the other was merely keeping back his decision until he
heard what terms might be offered him, and that a practical suggestion
about money matters would settle the matter, "why, mister, we sha'n't
grumble about the dollars, you bet! As yer knows, the Kernel kinder
invited yer jest now, when we had no sort o' reckonin' as to who and
what yer were. Tharr'll be no worry about yer share ov the plunder,
neow--