rse should be
taken.

"Who are you, and where do you come from?" said Gwyn, looking at the man
suspiciously.

"Truro. All sorts o' places wherever there's mines open and--work."

"And you heard that this one was going to be opened?"

"Yes, that's just what I did hear."

"Then why did you come spying about the place?"

"Never came spying about; only wanted to know how deep she was. I don't
like mines as is two hundred fathom deep. Too hot enough, and such a
long way up and down. Takes all the steam out of you. Will your
guv'nors give me a job?"

"Go to the office and ask them; that's the best way," said Gwyn, looking
at the man suspiciously, as he took off his cap, and began to smooth it
round and round.

"Well, p'r'aps that won't be a bad way," said the fellow. "But you two
won't say anything again' me, will you, 'cause of that row we had when
you smugged my line and sinker?"

"I don't think I shall say any more than what happened," replied Gwyn.

"'Cause it was all over a row, now, warn't it? Of course, a chap gets
his monkey up a bit when it comes to a fight. That's nat'ral, ar'n't
it?"

Gwyn nodded, and felt as if he did not like the look of the man at all;
but at the same time he was ready to own that there might be a good deal
of prejudice in the matter.

"Wouldn't like to go and say a good word for me, would you?" said the
man.

"Of course, I should not like to," said Gwyn, laughing. "How can I go
and speak for a man whom I only know through our having two rows with
him. That isn't natural, is it?"

"No, I s'pose not," said the man, frankly. "Well, I'll go myself. I
say, I am a wunner to work."

"You'd better tell Colonel Pendarve so," said Gwyn, smiling.

"Think so? Well, I will, and good luck to me. But, I say, hadn't you
two better make your dog friends with me?"

"No," said Gwyn, promptly. "Grip will know fast enough whether he ought
to be friends with you or no."

"Would he? Is he clever enough for that?"

"Oh, yes," said Gwyn; "he knows an honest man when he sees him, doesn't
he, Joe?"

"To be sure he does."

"Think o' that, now," said the man. "All right, then. Don't you two go
again' me. I'll start for the office at once."

"Here, what's your name?"

"Dinass--Thomas Dinass," said the man, with a laugh, "but I'm mostly
called Tom. That all?"

"Yes, that's all," said Gwyn, shortly; and the man turned to go, with
the result that Grip made a rush after him,