here, and
has won the liking and esteem of all my friends, not one of whom has so
much as a suspicion that he is not of the same rank of life as
themselves."

"What am I to do, Mr. Hardinge?" Mr. Brook asked in perplexity. "What
would you advise?"

"I should give him his first lift at once," Mr. Hardinge said decidedly.
"It will be many months before you have carried out the new scheme for
the ventilation of the mine; and, believe me, it will not be safe, if
there come a sudden influx of gas, till the alterations are made. Make
this young fellow deputy viewer, with special charge to look after the
ventilation. In that way he will not have to give instruction to the men
as to their work, but will confine his attention to the ventilation, the
state of the air, the doors, and so on. Even then his position will for
a time be difficult; but the lad has plenty of self-control, and will be
able to tide over it, and the men will get to see that he really
understands his business. You will of course order the underground
manager and viewers to give him every support. The underground manager,
at any rate, must be perfectly aware of his capabilities, as he seems to
have done all his paper work for some time."

Never were a body of men more astonished than were the pitmen of the
Vaughan when they heard that young Jack Simpson was appointed a deputy
viewer, with the special charge of the ventilation of the mine.

A deputy viewer is not a position of great honour; the pay is scarcely
more than that which a getter will earn, and the rank is scarcely
higher. This kind of post, indeed, is generally given to a miner of
experience, getting past his work--as care, attention, and knowledge are
required, rather than hard work. That a young man should be appointed
was an anomaly which simply astonished the colliers of the Vaughan. The
affair was first known on the surface, and as the men came up in the
cages the news was told them, and the majority, instead of at once
hurrying home, stopped to talk it over.

"It be the rummest start I ever heard on," one said. "Ah! here comes
Bill Haden. Hast heard t' news, Bill?"

"What news?"

"Why, your Jack's made a deputy. What dost think o' that, right over
heads o' us all? Did'st e'er hear tell o' such a thing?"

"No, I didn't," Bill Haden said emphatically. "It's t' first time as
e'er I heard o' t' right man being picked out wi'out a question o' age.
I know him, and I tell 'ee, he mayn't kno