Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1890 — THE MASTER OF THE MINE. [ARTICLE]

THE MASTER OF THE MINE.

By Robert Buchanan.

CHAPTER VIL ' ' • r ~ ~ - ~~'-T . .. ■ ~ M.l ' A VISIT OF INSPECTION. Thus began say knowledge of the mine; from that day forth my interest in it deepened, and it haunted me like a passion. Its darkness and perils had a fascination for me. and I was not content till L had explored every cranny and familiarized myself with the mining art or science. Eager for Information, I read every hook on the subject that I could buy or borrow, and in a abort time I could have passed a pretty stiff examination as an engineer. I must now paaa over, at one awft bound, a lapse of eight years. During that time I had exchanged the duties of clerk for that of assistant overseer, and then, on the death of Mr. Redruth, for those ofoverseer-in-chief. Behold me, then, at twenty-two years of age, the mainstay of the Pen* dragon household; changed somewhat, for— Nature doth subdue Iti.U TO irfafcVlt worku on, like the dyer** hand; rough, robust, full of strength, and s rude pride. In my twenty-second year occurred an event which was destined to exercise no little influencover my whole future life. As I ape proacli the chronicling of this event, my heart beats and my hand tre mblas, and, the fitful passion of those far-off days awakens troublous!y again. J I was standing one day on the cliffs, close to the mouth of the mine, when I saw two figures coming from the direction of the village. One was my cousin Annie, now a comely young woman; the other was yaung George Redruth, whom I had scarcely set eyes upon since the time of his father's death, - .. - - -

Tiiey were talking earnestly, and did not seem at first to notice me; but presently Tsaw Annie give a startled look in my direction, and afterwards they approached together. Now, I don’t know how it happened—it was Instinct. I suppose, or something of that sort—-hut never.from the moment of our first meeting as boys,had l been able to regard George Redruth with any feeling but one of excessive irritation and dislike. His flippant, patronising manner had something to do with it; so, perhaps, hod his good looks, for his worst onemy could ndt have denied that he was superbly handsome. As I glanced at his pale, beautifully formed face, at his slight; graceful figure, at hlg elegant dress, I was painfully conscious of my own, physical inferiority. Though I was strongly built and not ill-favord, wind and weather had worked their will on me, and I was rough, I kuew, as my daily occupation. He strolled up carelessly, swinging his cane, and smoking a cigar. “Ah. Trelawney.” ho 6aid. with a flod, “your cousin Annie has been telling me there are complaints, again, about the outlying shafts of the mine. So I’m going down to have a look around.”

“Very well, sir, I replied, wonder-, ing in my mind why Annie had chosen to make herself the mouthpiece of the men. „ “1 suppose it’s safe enough?” he •aid, after a moment. “You know, though I’m a mine-owner, 1 don’t know much about the business; I used to leave all that to the governor.” “It is only right.” was my reply, “that y. u should judge its safety for yourself. If anything happened, you would be responsible.” “I don’t know about that.” he said lharply: “I pay you for superintendtfi^rhi _ w6rk:^hd''ir~mrfiri~aafipF 11 •‘There is,” I Interposed. “Well, then, I pay you for facing it and reporting upon it One can’t be both employer and servant too!” I was about to retort somewhat angrily, for the manner of his speech was even more insufferable Jthan its matter, when I met Annie’s entreating eyes, and refrained. “Air George, ” she said quickly, “is anx-ous that nothing should go crong.” “Of course I am,” cried the young man wiih a curious laugh. ‘T know what flooding the mine means—any amount of expense, perhaps ruin; for If the sea once got fairly in—w'hew! it would be a bad job for me." “And for the men,” I said, frowning.

“And for the men, of course; but it’s their living, and no doubt they know how to lopk alter themselves. Be good enough to make all ready TreJawney, for I’m going down at once. 1 suppose there is a dress handy?" I answered in the affirmative, and .walked off towards the office. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw him glanoe after me, and then, with a contemptuous laugh, say something to Annie. My blood boiled angrily, and my cheeks grew crimson. I could have turned baok and struck him in the face. ... —— —l——^ Close to the office, I found my uncle, who had just come up from underground, and was covered with the rust of the copperas earth. I told him the yonng master was going down, and he wasdelighted. “He’s a bravejlad. Master Jarge” he cried, a fine brave lad! I’ll gaw wi’ ’un. and shaw ’un where the wall b 3 breaking down.” Presently, Redruth came along, and followed me into the office, where several woolen costumes were hanging. He lrugbed gaily, as he transformed Ihitnself into a miner. When the transformation was complete, he still !looked thr gentleman; and, in spite of t myself, t left the irritating sense of .my own inferiority. I My uncle led the way down the knp, showing infinite care and tern.

dernem forQthe young master, who followed him, while I came last. The earth soon swallowed us, and the only light we had was the light of thß candles stc«k upon our persons and in our hats. ’ — l -• ■ From ladder to ladder we went till we reached the central platform, where wo paused to take breath. Then down we crept again 111 l wa reached the of tire gnome-like figures at work in the submarine darkness. My uncle still lejd the way, stopping from time bo time to pilot Redruth overawkwaid 6tones and dangerous trap holes. Our progress was now very slow. Walking, stooping, crawling, climbing, descending, ilVe proceeded; now crossing black abysses, thinly covered with quaking planks; past wild figures -kneeling or lying, and laboring with abort pickaxes on the ore; and as we went the roar that had been in our ears frbm the beginning 'deepened,' while the solid rocks above us seemed quaking in the act to fail. At last my uncle paused and wiped bis brow. We were all three now completely disfigured with earth, mud, tallow, rust and iron drippings. “Where the deuce are we now?” asked the young master. “Whar, Master Jarge?” repeated my uncle, with a friendly grin. “Right down under sae.” Redruth glanced at me. -“how far down, Trelawney?” • Twenty fathoms under the sea level, sir, and three hundred - feet or more out beyond low water mark.” “Well, wpere’s the damage? It all seems snug enough.” He was certainly very cool, though he had not been underground more than once or twice in his life; and I wondered to myself whether his in - souciance Came from bravado or sheer

stupidity “Come this way, Marster Jarga,” said my uncle , crawling forward until we reached a narrow space with just room for two of us to stand abreast. Suddenly we found ourselves ankle-deep in water, and at the same time thick drops like heavy rain fell from the rocks übove us. My uncle reached up with his hands and touched the roof, which vva3 parHally fortified with wood and cement. *T plugged this yar last night, Master Javge.” he explained. “The salt water were streaming in like a fall.’' As he spoke the rokr deepened to a crash, and we could distinctly hear the sea grinding on the pebbles right above our heads. It seemed momeniariiy as if the whole fabric of the rock would break in under the flux and reflux of the rolling waves. I saw Redruth start back and glance toward the gallery down which he had como. But he recovered his sangfroid in a moment. “The deuce!” he muttered, “How thick is the ceiling here, Trelawney?” “Six feet at the thickest, sir; at the thinnest, where you saw the wooden plug, not more than three.” Young Redruth looked up again, and taking a candle from his person, examined the rock. It was actually percolated with sea water oozing through the solid granite mass, and covered with green and glistening ooze; but through all the dampness and sliminess the stripes of pure copper ran in rich bars, forming part of the finest and most precious lode in the whole mine.

“Why, it’s almdst solid or®/’ he said. “Isß, Master Jarge,” returned my uncle, ‘‘but us can’t go no further thisway without flooding the shaft. ’Twould on, and ’twill cost a heap to keep tight and safe as it be.” ••Is that so, Trelawney?” •*Yes. sir. We must build up this part of the gallery and have it closed, l eatt’t keep-the- men from us ing their picks where the ore runs thickest, even where every inch of stuff they loosen is bringing them nearer to their ’death.” 1 The young master made no further remark just then, but continued his examination of the other parts of the mine. In several other places the roof was dangerous. My uncle pointed out the various unsafe portions, and led the way from gallery to gallery, until the tour of inspection was complete. At last we re-ascended to the sunshine. How bright and dazzling all seemed after that subaqueous darkness! Redruth seemed in a brown study. Not until he had washed himself and reassumed bis ordinary attire, did he find his tongue. By this time my uncle had returned to his labors down below, and we two were left alone. .. “Is there anything else you wish to jeport?” asked Redruth sharply, as we stood together at the office deor. “Nothing more than I have already reported in writing.” “Well, what was that?” “The whole mine wants repair. Putting aside the outlying galleries, where the sea may enter at any minute, the engines and machinery need replacing, the ladders are rotten; in fact, everything is in the lait stages of decay, and mo wonder, seeing that scarcely a penny has been spent on it within my memory.” He frowned, and bit his lips; then he looked at me contemptuously from head to foot. ••You are a pretty fellow, a very pretty fellow. You want Wruin me, eh?” “No, sir; but I want to ensure the safety of the men.” “Pshaw! You are a croaker, and know little or nothing of the matter,” he said, turning on his heel. “At any rate, sir,” I returned, following him. ‘ you will have the outer galleries filled up at once? If you don't, i’ll not answer for the consequences.” ••Who the deyll aßked you?” he cried. “Your place is to report, not to •dvis*. A * to ceaaing to work the

outer galleries, I suppose you know that the richest (ode of ore runs there and that the' inner portion of the mine is almost barren?” » *T know that; but—” “But you prefer mutiny and disaffection to study of your employer’s inI tell you flatly, I don’t tnteud to listen -to such nonsense. Thaqks to you, the mine at present yields little or a oqjroftt, aodT am ina fai r way to become a beggar. ” He saw me smile incredulously, as I cried. ‘Titan yott will do nothing?” “I will do nothing under your advice, for I don’t trust you. A gentleman in whom I have the utmost confidence will be here to-morrow morning. You will 'a-company him down the mine, and you wHI show him what you have shown me. I shall then be guided by his advice, not by yours.” W*h these words be walked away. Soon after sunrise the next morning, as I sat in the office at the mine-head, I was visited by the person to whom Redruth had alluded. He was a tbin spare, sandy-haired young man of about thirty, with a mean type of countenance and an accent which was a curious compound of Cocknevisms andAmerieanisms. He had, indeed. - 1 >een born - within the sound of Bow Bells; but having spent a portion of his manhood in the Unitod States, he affected the free and easy manners of a Yankee citizen. He gave me his card, on which was printed .the words, “Epriam S.Johnsun. Civil Engineer, State of New York.” I glanced at the name, and then took a good look at theowner. Ho wore a showy tweed suit, a glaring red necktie with a horseshoe pin, and a light billycock hatA Altogether his appearance was Dot prepossessing.

He informed me in a high, shrill voice that ire had been instructed by Mr, George Redruth to go down the mine and report on its prospects and condition. . - '• • - ; - ' : “You will find its condition bad enough,” I said quickly. “Maybe I shall and maybe I shan’t,” he answered. “I don’t want you to prejudice my mind, young man; not that you could doit if you tried, Guess I haven’t been in the Shoshone country for nothing.” He pronounced it * 'nothink.” but that is neither here nor there, I saw at once from his manner that he had come with a preconceived opinion, that nothing he might see would be likely to make him side with the men again.t their master. However. I treated, him as civilly as possible, and when he had assumed the necessary

dress we made the tour of inspection together. When we came to- the lying gallery above which the sea was thundering, ho trembled a good deal and gave other signs of agitation, and he did not recover himself until he had regained the open air, which ho did after a very perfunctory visit in, deed. Once or twice on the way, as we ascended the ladders communicating with the abyss, he grew giddy, and I had to watch him carefully, fearing he might fall. All this, it may be guessed, did not increase my respect for Mr. Ephriam S. Johnson. He did not altogether recover his equanimity until he had sloughed his miner’s dress and put on his own radiant apparel. Then, curious to know what he would eay to his employer, I questioned him. “Well, Mr. Johnson, did I exaggerate when I said that the mine was unsafe?”

He answered me sharply and impudently, but averted his small, keen eyes from mine- • Excuse me, young man, I shall report my opinion to Mr. George Red-, ruth, not to you. I don’t mind sayiDg, however, that I guess you did exag'ge'rate.''OhthewhdleT^‘“j“" Angry at his manner, I could not forbear retorting: “You didn’t seem to express that opinion when you were down below.” “What do you mean?” he cried, turn ing crimson. “I mean that you seemed rather in a hurry to get back to the terra firma, up here.” He did not reply, but gave me a look full of malignity and dislike. Then he walked out of the office, but the next minute he put his head in again in the door. ’ . (To be continued.)