Entering the breaker, which was thickly coated both inside and out with coal-dust, he reported to Donovan, the boss, by saying:
"I have come to work. Here is my ticket."
"Green?"
"Yes, sir."
"Here, Chunky, take this new hand alongside of you, and see that there is no skylarking."
The boy referred to as Chunky made no reply; but looked up from beside the long chute at which he was sitting, as if the task of breaking in a new hand was very welcome. A fat, good-natured fellow he apparently was, and Fred fancied he would be an agreeable task-master.
He, like the others, was curious to know if his companion had been in a mine before, and on receiving the information, remarked sagely:
"You'll be mighty sick of the whole thing before night, but it's safer than down in the galleries."
"What must I do?"
"At seven o'clock the coal will be dumped in at the other end of the chute, an' while it's runnin' past you must pick out the slate."