"No, sir; I am going to work here."
"Oh, you are, eh? Well, I think I shall have something to say about that. You're not going to work here, and I should like to know what you are doing down in this mine, anyway. I'll have the mine captain put you out. It's my opinion that you are not here for any good, and you're lucky if he doesn't turn you over to the mine police."
"I have been assigned to work in this drift. The superintendent ordered me to report to you, sir. I am ready to go to work."
The contractor gazed at the boy with a puzzled expression on his face.
"You, a boy like you, work here? Pooh! What do you think this is, a kindergarten?"
"I am able to do a day's work; besides, it is the superintendent's orders, sir."
Spooner knew the boy had the best of him there. The superintendent's orders were to be obeyed, no matter if Spooner was mining on a contract agreement.
"Very well; if you want to work you shall have all the work you can do. I'll see the superintendent about your case when I go up to-day noon."
"What shall I do?"
"Do? Don't you see anything to do?"