by Kirk Munroe
CHAPTER X
HEROISM REWARDED
As the story of Peveril's brave act preceded him, it gained soremarkably in passing from mouth to mouth that, by the time it reachedMrs. Trefethen, she received a confused impression that by someunheard-of bravery the young man had saved all in the mine, includingher Mark and her Tom, from instant destruction. Her information havingcome direct from her dearest friend, Mrs. Penny, she could not doubtits truth, nor had she time to do so before the triumphal processionof miners appeared and halted at her very door.
Calling upon Nelly to support her, the worthy woman started forth togreet her heroes, and welcome them with all the warmth of heroverflowing heart. As she gained the roadway, she was so blinded bythankful tears that she could not distinguish one person from another,but impulsively flung her arms about the neck of the first man sheencountered, who happened to be Mike Connell, and treated him to ahearty embrace.
"Gie mun a kiss, lass!" she called to Nelly, as she loosed her armsand made towards another victim. "Nought's too good for they bravelads this day. Oh, Mark, man! but I be proud o' being thy earthlywife, 'stead o' seeing thee in 'eaven this blessed minute."
This last was addressed to a bewildered stranger whom Mrs. Trefethenhad mistaken for her husband, and who was vainly striving to escapefrom her encircling arms.
"Art crazy, mother, to be hustling men in public street thiccy way? Ibe 'shamed of 'ee!" cried Mark Trefethen, catching hold of his wife atthis moment. "Come along in house, or if 'ee must have man to hug takeme or Tom here, or Maister Peril, who deserves it best of all for thisday's work."
Nothing loath to do as she was bid, Mrs. Trefethen made a third effortto express her feelings towards Peveril, in her own peculiar fashion;but he laughingly evaded her, and she fell instead upon the neck ofanother astonished stranger who happened in her way, and upon whosehead she tearfully called down the choicest blessings of Heaven.
"Thee's saved me from widow's grave, lad, which the same, I frequentsaz to Miss Penny, I did 'ope never to live to see; but our 'EveanlyFeyther knows best, and if hits 'Is will--But there, I'm thatover-set--Nelly, gie Maister Peril a kiss, lass, in token of thyforgiveness for what 'e's done this day."
So saying, the well-meaning blunderer released her victim, with theview of allowing Nelly a chance to express her gratitude, and, for thefirst time, caught sight of his face.
"Thee's not Dick Peril!" she cried. "W'at's thee mean by scandalizinghonest woman thiccy way? Isn't thee 'shamed on thysel', thou greatlump?"
The poor man tried in vain to explain his innocence of act orintention, but his voice was drowned in the boisterous laughter of hismates, amid which the crowd gradually dispersed, while Mrs. Trefethen,still exclaiming against the duplicity of men in general, was led intothe house by her husband and son.
In the meantime Miss Nelly had demurely shaken hands with MikeConnell, who was still gasping in astonishment at the warmth of Mrs.Trefethen's reception. Then she kissed her father and Tom, stole onelook at Peveril's face, and, murmuring something about seeing aftersupper, ran into the house.
Although Peveril had not forgotten the promise to his newly madefriend to inform Nelly of his own engagement as soon as possible, hehad no chance to do so that evening; for supper had hardly been eatenwhen he began to receive visitors eager to congratulate him upon hisrecent act of heroism. Among these was Major Arkell, general managerof the mine, whom the young man had never before met.
The Trefethens were thrown into a flutter of hospitable pride by thecoming to their cottage of so distinguished a visitor, but, after acourteous greeting to them, he devoted his entire attention to himwhom he had come purposely to see. After the latter had beenintroduced to him as "Mr. Peril," he asked so many questionsconcerning the recent incident as to finally draw out the whole storyof that day's experience. He was a good listener, though a man of fewwords, and during Peveril's narrative gained a very fair idea of ouryoung miner's education and capabilities. When the latter hadfinished, the major asked him if he proposed to continue his career asa miner.
"I expect I shall have to," answered Peveril, "seeing that I amentirely dependent upon my own exertions for a livelihood, and have noknowledge of any other business."
"Do you mind telling me what led you to choose this line of work fromall others?"
"Because," replied Peveril, flushing, "finding myself in Red Jacketwithout a dollar, I was glad to accept the first job that offered."
"And we was only too glad to have him for one of us, major," broke inMark Trefethen, "seeing as how he introduced himself by saving ourTom's life."
"Indeed! I hadn't heard of that. How did it happen?"
Glad of an opportunity for singing his young friend's praises, thetimber boss eagerly related the incident; and when it was told themanager said, with a smile:
"Well, sir, you seem to have such a happy faculty for life-saving thatI don't know but what we ought to appoint you inspector of accidents.Seriously, though, I am very glad to have a man of your evidentability and steady nerve with us, and if you are inclined to remain inour employ I shall make it my business to see that your interests donot suffer. So, if you will call at my office about eight o'clockto-morrow morning I shall be pleased to have a further talk withyou."
"Thank you, sir," rejoined Peveril; "I will not fail to be there."
After the great man had departed, the Trefethens indulged in manyspeculations as to what he intended to do for their guest; nor wasPeveril himself devoid of a hopeful curiosity in the same direction.
"Mayhap he'll make 'ee store-keeper," suggested Mrs. Trefethen; "handif 'e only will, Maister Peril, me and Miss Penny 'll take all ourtrade to thy shop, though they do say has 'ow company ginghams woan'twash, while has for white goods, they've poorest stock in hall RedJacket. Same time, there's many other little things can be 'adreasonable, and Miss Penny's a lady as isn't above buying 'er owngroceries, which hit's a treat to see 'er taking, a taste of this or anibble at that, and always giving shopkeeper the benefit of 'erhexperience."
"Store-keeper be danged!" growled Mark Trefethen. "'Tisn't likelythey'll try to make a counter-jumper outen a lad of Maister Peril'ssize and weight o' fist, to say nothing of his l'arnin'. No, no. Morelike he'll get a good berth underground--foreman of gang, or platboss, or summut like that."
Tom thought it might be a job connected with the railroad, which washis own ambition; while Nelly, usually so ready with her tongue, for awonder kept silent and made no suggestions.
On the following morning, when, promptly at eight o'clock, Peverilpresented himself at the manager's office, his patience was tried bybeing compelled to wait in an anteroom for more than an hour while thegreat man despatched an immense amount of business with manysubordinates. Richard could not help overhearing many of theconversations carried on in the private office, and, as he listened,was filled with admiration at the decisive readiness with which themanager disposed of one difficult problem after another.
Finally, when all the others had been dismissed, Peveril was summonedto the inner room, where, after a word of regret at having kept him solong in waiting, the manager bade him be seated, and said:
"Mr. Peril, it is so evident that you have been accustomed to aposition far removed from that of a common laborer, that I am desirousof knowing something more of your life before intrusting you with aresponsibility. Do you mind telling me what brought you to thissection of country?"
"No, sir; I don't know that I do. I came out here ruined in fortune,through no fault of my own, to seek information concerning an old,and, I believe, a long-ago-abandoned mine, known as the CopperPrincess."
"Um! I remember hearing the name; and, if I am not mistaken, itapplied to a worthless property on which a large sum of money wassquandered many years since."
"Yes, sir."
"How are you interested in it?"
"My father was an owner, and I am his heir."
"I am glad you have told me this, and relieved to find that no worsefoll
y has caused a gentleman to seek employment as a common miner,though I cannot hold out the slightest hope that you will ever recovera dollar from your property. Still, I will make inquiries, and let youknow anything I may learn."
"Thank you, sir."
"Do you know anything about boats?" asked the manager, abruptlychanging the subject.
"Yes, sir; I have handled boats more or less all my life."
"Good! Then I want you to take charge of a gang of men whom you willfind awaiting you on the company's tug down at the landing. They aregoing some distance up the coast, to recover whatever may be found ofa valuable timber raft belonging to us, and wrecked near Laughing FishCove during the gale of two days ago. All our logs are marked 'W. P.'If you find any such in possession of other parties, you will layclaim to them, and even take them by force if necessary. The tug willleave you at the cove, where you will establish a camp, and to whichyou will raft the recovered logs, holding them against her return,which will be in about a week. Here is a note of introduction to hercaptain. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir; I think I do."
"Then you may start at once."
"Very well, sir;" and the young man, realizing his employer's love ofpromptness, rose to leave.
"By the way," said the other, as he reached the door, "is your namePeril?"
"No, sir; it is Peveril."
"Richard?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then this letter is probably for you. It has lain here several days,awaiting a claimant."
With this Major Arkell handed the young man a dainty-looking missivethat he acknowledged to be for him, and which, as he thrust it intohis pocket, he saw with a thrill of joy was addressed in thehandwriting of Rose Bonnifay.