“Yes, sir, wrong you are; and seeing how scarce work is, and so many mines not going, you won’t mind putting a word in for me to the Colonel and the Major.”
“What for? What about?” said Gwyn, sharply. “Your character?”
“Nay, sir, I don’t want no character. Sam Hardock says the mine’s rich, and I want to stay on. You say the right word to the Colonel, and he’ll keep me on.”
“I don’t feel as if I could, Dinass,” said Gwyn, thoughtfully.
“Not just this minute, sir,” said the man, humbly; “but if you think about it, and how hard it is for a man to lose his bread for a thing like that, you’ll feel different about it. Do try, sir, please. I’m a useful man, and you’ll want me; and I’ll never forget it if you do.”
“Well,” said Gwyn, “I’ll think about it; but if I do ask my father, he may not listen to me.”
“Oh, yes, he will, sir; he’d do anything you asked him; and so would yours, Master Joe. Do, please, gentlemen, and very thankful I’ll be.”
“Come along, Joe,” said Gwyn.
“And you will speak a word for me, sir—both of you?”
“I’ll see,” said Joe; and with Grip trotting softly behind them, the two lads hurried off.