“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.