“You won’t ask for him to stay, Ydoll?” said Joe, earnestly, as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Why not? Perhaps we’re misjudging him after all.”
“But I never liked him,” said Joe.
“Well I didn’t, and I don’t; but that’s no reason why we should be unfair. He isn’t a pleasant fellow, and nobody seems to take to him; I believe he is right about all the men being set against him.”
“Well, then, it’s right for him to go.”
“Oh, I say, Jolly, don’t be hard and unfair on a fellow. One ought to stick up for the weaker side. Let’s go and see if father’s in the office.”
“And you are going to speak for him?”
“Yes; and so are you;” and Gwyn led the way to the new mine buildings where the carpenters and masons were still busy, passing the shaft where the pump was steadily at work, but going very slowly, for there was very little water to keep down.
As the boys approached the doorway they saw Hardock come out and go on to the mine, while on entering they found the Colonel and the Major examining a rough statement drawn up by the captain who had just left.
“Well, boys,” said Major Jollivet, “have you come in to hear about it?”