He paid them off in full, and assured them that three or four more days’ work with their united assistance, was all that was necessary to reach the gold he had been looking for so many weary years, and expressed confidence, in his chivalrous way, that all his employes would report the next Monday morning for work, and stay with him until the drift was finished. The following Monday morning, however, found but a half dozen men reporting for work, much to Colonel Bonifield’s surprise and disappointment.
The old Colonel went into the mine with his faithful adherents, and encouraged them by his undaunted energy. What could have been accomplished by forty men in the space of three days, would require fifteen or twenty days with his half dozen assistants. They lessened the size of the drift shaft, however, and this would make quite a saving of time. Throughout the week, the Colonel, with his handful of assistants, labored incessantly. When the next Monday morning came around, he found that only three reported for duty. This was indeed discouraging, but with a determination that knew no brooking, he went on.
Two days later, his three assistants advised him that their families were in want of the necessities of life, and while they still had unbounded faith in Gray Rocks, yet they owed a duty to their families first and before all else, and could not remain with him any longer.
After this, the engineer and fireman took turns in helping the Colonel. One man remaining in the engine room performed the work of both. After a couple of days of monotonous drilling and blasting, the Colonel one evening told Louise of his great discouragement.
“My deah daughter,” said the Colonel, “they have all dese’ted me; I am left alone to finish the work in the mine as best I can. It’s pow’ful humiliatin’ to be dese’ted just when I am reachin’ fo’ the last round in the laddeh.” Louise had slipped her arms around his neck while he was speaking.
“My dear father,” she said, “why not go to Mr. Gilder; he has been so true to you, and I am sure, now that you are so near finishing your work, he will give you what assistance is needed.”
The old man stroked his daughter’s hair affectionately. “Yes, suh, yo’ are right; he would help me if he could. No one seems to undehstand me, Louise, my deah child, except’n’ yo’self and Mr. Gilder. I may as well tell yo’ that I called on Mr. Gilder sev’al days ago fo’ a little mo’ money, and he told me the $6,000 which he had given us was practically every dollar he had in the world. It made my old heart bleed to see the pained expression on the noble young fellow’s face—pained because he couldn’t help me mo’. I explained to him that it made no diff’ence; that my men—the rascals who have so shamefully dese’ted me—had confidence in Gray Rocks, and that they would stand by me fo’ a few days longeh.”