“All right, and thank you, mates,” said Dallas. “Morning.”
“I say, we’ll show you the flour-tub and the bare bone if you like.”
“No, no,” cried Dallas; “I believe you.” And then to himself, “I must fall back on Tregelly.”
He had the burning wood fire for guide to where the big miner was thawing the shaft in his claim, to make the frozen gravel workable, and in addition there were faint signs coming of the short-lived day. “Morning, Tregelly.”
“What, you, Mr Adams! Glad to see you, my son. Come inside and have a mouthful of something and a pipe.”
“I don’t want to hinder you,” said Dallas to his cheery friend.
“You won’t hinder me, my son. I like letting the fire have a good burn out, and then for it to cool down before I begin. Come along; but how’s your cousin?”
“Better this morning, but very low-spirited last night, with his frost-bitten foot.”
“Poor lad! It is hard on him.”
“The fact is, we are terribly short of provisions.”