blacker, and then gripped mine as badly as Uncle Jack had on the
previous night. In fact, you see, I suffered for people liking me.

"Are you glad, mun?" he said at last hoarsely; "are you glad? Well
that's cheering anyhow, and thank ye."

He nodded and went on with his work again while I went to mine about the
books, but with a suspicious feeling of impending trouble on my mind, as
I passed two of the men who saw me come out of the smithy, and who must
have seen me shaking hands with Pannell.

I don't know why they should have minded, for I should have done the
same with either of them had we been on as friendly terms.

As I entered my little office my eyes lit on the common fishing-rod I
had used, and that set me thinking about the conversation I had heard as
I stood on the ledge.

I recalled what had been said overnight in a long discussion with my
uncles, and the advice they had given.

"Don't show suspicion," Uncle Dick had said, "but meet every man with a
frank fearless look in the eye, as if you asked no favour of him, were
not afraid of him, and as if you wanted to meet him in a straightforward
way."

I thought a good deal about it all, and how my uncles said they meant to
be just and kind and stern at the same time; and it certainly did seem
as if this was the most likely way to win the men's respect.

"For now that we have concluded to keep you with us, Cob, I must warn
that we mean business, and that we have made up our minds that we shall
win."

That morning went off quietly enough, and though we all kept a quiet
searching look-out, there was nothing to excite suspicion. Then evening
came, and the watching, in which again that night I had no share, but it
was an understood thing that I was to be at the works at the same time
as the men next day.

It was a lovely autumn morning with the wind from the country side, and
as I hurried up and off to the works there was a feeling in the air that
seemed to tempt me away to the hills and vales, and made me long for a
change.

"I'll see if one of them won't go for a day," I said to myself; and
hopeful of getting the holiday, and perhaps a run up to the great dam, I
reached the works before the men.

"Well done, industrious!" cried Uncle Bob, who opened the gate to me.
"You are first."

"That's right," I said. "No, it isn't. Where's Uncle Dick? Why, you
look pale."

"Uncle Dick isn't awake," he said quickly. "Fact is, Cob, I've had a
scare.