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Sappers and Miners; The Flood beneath the Sea, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 14. A Suspicion Of Evil |
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_ CHAPTER FOURTEEN. A SUSPICION OF EVIL The result of the morning's work was that Sam Hardock received a message from the Colonel, delivered by Gwyn, and the man rubbed his hands gleefully. "I thought he couldn't refuse such a chance," cried Hardock. "It's a big fortune for him." "I hope so," said Gwyn. "But how came those people at Plymouth to hear about it?" "I dunno, sir. But they got hold of the gashly news somehow." "You did not send them word, of course?" "Me? Not I, sir." "But how could that man have heard of it, and come over to sound the mine and examine the place?" "What man?" cried Hardock, anxiously. Gwyn explained, and, in answer to questions, the lad gave a pretty good description of his awkward adversary. Hardock struck his fist upon the table. "That's the chap! I often wondered who he was. Been hanging about here these two months past." "Then you did tell him." "Me, Master Gwyn? Not a bit of it. I'm too close." "Then you must have talked about it to other people, and he picked up what you said. But there, come along. He will not get it now." "He must have been sent by someone out Plymouth way, that's for certain, sir. But come along. I want to hear what the Colonel has to say." "And the Major, too." "Why, he's not in it, sir, is he?" "Of course. He will be my father's partner." Hardock whistled, and was very silent all the way up to the house by Ydoll Cove. He was talkative enough, though, when he came away, but in a very mysterious fashion. "It's all right, Mr Gwyn," he whispered. "Going to be a very big thing. I mustn't talk about it; but you're like one of us, and I may tell you. I'm off to Truro this afternoon to talk to an old friend of mine--engineer, and a very big man on working mines. He'll advise on the best kind of pump to have." The engineer came, examined the shaft, gave his opinions, and in a week's time masons were at work setting up an engine-house, ready for the steam machinery that was to come round by ship from Liverpool; and in a short time the wild slope at the top of the great cliffs was invaded by quite a colony of workmen. The masons' hammers were constantly chipping as they laboriously went on building and raising a platform above the mouth of the shaft, while, whenever a few rich pieces of ore, after possibly lying there many hundred years, were turned up, they were solemnly conveyed to the two old officers for examination. Here the two boys were soon in their element, and began working away with a great deal of enthusiasm in a small, corrugated iron shed which had been erected in the garden, and dignified by the name of laboratory. For, to the boys' great delight, a model furnace had been made, with bellows, and a supply of charcoal was always ready. There was a great cast-iron mortar fitted on a concrete stand, crucibles of various sizes, and the place looked quite ship-shape. Both the old officers worked hard at assaying the ore brought from about the mouth of the pit, dug no one knew when, and though they spent a good deal of time, they were very soon superseded by Gwyn and Joe. Hardock gave them a little instruction; everything about the work was interesting and fresh; and in a few weeks they were able to roughly declare how much pure metal could be obtained from a ton of the quartz which they broke up in the great mortar, powdering, and washing and drying, and then smelting in one of the plumbago crucibles of the laboratory. "There's no telling yet what we may find in that mine, Joe," said Gwyn; "only we don't know enough chemistry to find out." "It's metallurgy, father says," said Joe, correcting him. "Never mind; it's chemistry all the same; and we must read more about it, and try experiments. Why, we might get gold and silver." "What, out of a tin mine?" said Joe, derisively. "Well, why not? I don't know about the gold, but we may, perhaps. Sam Hardock said there were some specks in one bit of quartz he brought up." "But we shouldn't want specks; we should want lumps." "There's sure to be silver." "Why?" said Joe. "Because there's lead, and I was reading with father about how much silver you can get by purifying the lead. It's going to be a wonderful business." "Hope so," said Joe; "but they're a precious long while getting the machinery together, and my father says the cost is awful." "Can't get a great pump in a mine ready to work like you can one in a back kitchen," said Gwyn. "See what an awkward job it is fitting the platforms for the tubing. I think they're doing wonders, seeing what a lot there is to get ready. Sam says, though, that he believes they'll begin pumping next month." But next month came round, and they did not begin pumping, for the simple reason that the machinery was not ready. Still it was in fair progress, and an arrangement was fixed so that, when the beam began to rise and fall, the water would be sent gushing into the adit by which Gwyn had made his escape on that adventurous day; and as this little gully had a gentle slope towards the sea, the water would be easily got rid of by its own natural flow. The boys were at the mouth of the shaft on one particular day, and as the news had been spread that the first steps for drying the mine were to be taken, half the people from the little village had sauntered up, many of them being fisherfolk, and plenty of solemn conversation went on, more than one weather-beaten old sage giving it as his opinion that no good would come of it, for there was something wicked and queer about this old mine, and they all opined that it ought not to have been touched. Gwyn noticed the head-shakings, and nudged Joe. "Talking about the goblins in the mine," he answered. "I say, if there are any, they'll come rushing up the big tube like the tadpoles did in the garden pump when it was first made." Just then Joe caught hold of his companion's arm, and pinched it. "Hullo!" cried Gwyn. "Hush! don't talk--don't look till I tell you which way. I've just seen him." "Seen whom?" said Gwyn, wonderingly. "That big chap who was measuring the pit. He's over yonder with about a dozen more men. What does it mean?" "Mischief," said Gwyn, huskily. "Quick! Let's go and warn my father." "What about? He may only have come up to see." "I don't know," said Gwyn, excitedly. "Someone who wanted to get the mine must have sent them up first of all, and, as they couldn't get it, I'm afraid they've turned spiteful, and may try to do us harm. What would they do, do you think?" "Try and damage the machinery, perhaps," said Joe. "Yes, that's it. We must warn father, and keep an eye on those fellows, or there's no knowing what they may do. Where are they now?" "Can't see them," said Joe, after a glance round. "They must have gone." "Yes, but where? Not to the engine-house, surely. Why, they might upset the whole thing, and do no end of mischief if they liked. Come on, and let's make sure that they are not there, and then tell Sam Hardock to keep watch." Joe had another look round the now thoroughly transformed place, with its engine-house, sheds, and scaffold and wheel over the built-up shaft, but he saw nothing, and said so. Still Gwyn was not satisfied, for a peculiar feeling of dread oppressed him. "It isn't easy to see for the people and the buildings--Ah, there's father; let's go and tell him what we think." It was quite time: for the hero of the measuring and another sour-looking fellow were making their way round to where the two boilers were beginning to be charged with steam, and what was worse for all concerned, no one paid any heed to their movements, which were furtive and strange, suggesting that they had not come for the purpose of doing good, while their opportunities for doing a serious ill were ample; but Gwyn had just grasped that fact. _ |
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