“Yes; the weather’s lovely and warm, and you fellows can row me.”
I felt ready to toss up my hat and cheer, and I saw that Bigley was ready to do the same; but we both felt that we were getting too old, so we refrained.
“I’m afraid I can’t go, Captain Duncan,” said Bob in an ill-used way. “My father will be at home expecting me.”
“No, he will not, Bob,” said my father smiling; “he will not be back from Barnstaple till quite late. Come along, my lad, and we’ll have some lunch, and then begin drill. Had Sam started with the basket, Sep?”
“No, father,” I replied; “but I saw Kicksey packing it when I came away.”
“Sure to be there,” said my father; and he led the way up the Gap with Bigley, to whom he always made a great point of being kind, partly because he was my old companion, and partly, as I thought, because he wanted to smooth away any ill feeling, and to make up for the break between us that kept threatening to come.
This upset Bob, who hung back and began to growl about not being sure he could stop to drill, and thought that, as we reached the end of the cliff path, he ought to go now, and altogether he required a great deal of coaxing to get him along, or rather he professed to want a great deal, till we reached the mine, where all was going on just as of old, the wheel turning, the water splashing, furnace roaring, and the pump keeping on its regular thump.
Old Sam was standing at the counting-house door with a big basket, the one he always brought over, filled with provisions for our use, as so much time was spent at the mine; and as my father pulled out a big key, Sam took in the basket, cleared the table, and threw over it a white cloth, upon which he spread the provisions.
For a few minutes after we had sat down—Bob Chowne having to be fetched in, after sliding off so that he might be fetched back—we could not eat much for feasting our eyes on the bright swords and pistols; but young appetites would have their way, and we were soon eating heartily till the meat pasty and custard and cream were completely destroyed.
“A very bold attack,” said my father smiling. “Now that ought to make muscle. Off with your coats, my lads, and roll up your sleeves.”