," I replied.

"From Machynlleth!" said he. "Well, I only wonder you ever got here, but
it would be madness to go farther alone."

"Well," said I, "can I obtain a guide?"

"I really don't know," said he; "I am afraid all the men are engaged."

As we were speaking a young man made his appearance at the door from the
interior of the house. He was dressed in a brown short coat, had a
glazed hat on his head, and had a pale but very intelligent countenance.

"What is the matter?" said he to the other man.

"This gentleman," replied the latter, "is going to Pont Erwyd, and wants
a guide."

"Well," said the young man, "we must find him one. It will never do to
let him go by himself."

"If you can find me a guide," said I, "I shall be happy to pay him for
his trouble."

"Oh, you can do as you please about that," said the young man; "but, pay
or not, we would never suffer you to leave this place without a guide,
and as much for our own sake as yours; for the directors of the Company
would never forgive us if they heard we had suffered a gentleman to leave
these premises without a guide, more especially if he were lost, as it is
a hundred to one you would be if you went by yourself."

"Pray," said I, "what Company is this, the directors of which are so
solicitous about the safety of strangers?"

"The Potosi Mining Company," said he, "the richest in all Wales. But
pray walk in and sit down, for you must be tired."

CHAPTER LXXXI

The Mining Compting Room--Native of Aberystwyth--Story of a
Bloodhound--The Young Girls--The Miner's Tale--Gwen Frwd--The Terfyn.

I followed the young man with the glazed hat into a room, the other man
following behind me. He of the glazed hat made me sit down before a turf
fire, apologising for its smoking very much. The room seemed half
compting-room, half apartment. There was a wooden desk with a ledger
upon it by the window, which looked to the west, and a camp bedstead
extended from the southern wall nearly up to the desk. After I had sat
for about a minute, the young man asked me if I would take any
refreshment. I thanked him for his kind offer, which I declined, saying,
however, that if he would obtain me a guide I should feel much obliged.
He turned to the other man and told him to go and inquire whether there
was any one who would be willing to go. The other nodded, and forthwith
went out.

"You think, then," said I, "that I could not find the way by myself?"