HEROISM REWARDED
As the story of Peveril's brave act preceded him, it gained so
remarkably in passing from mouth to mouth that, by the time it reached
Mrs. Trefethen, she received a confused impression that by some
unheard-of bravery the young man had saved all in the mine, including
her Mark and her Tom, from instant destruction. Her information having
come direct from her dearest friend, Mrs. Penny, she could not doubt
its truth, nor had she time to do so before the triumphal procession
of miners appeared and halted at her very door.
Calling upon Nelly to support her, the worthy woman started forth to
greet her heroes, and welcome them with all the warmth of her
overflowing heart. As she gained the roadway, she was so blinded by
thankful tears that she could not distinguish one person from another,
but impulsively flung her arms about the neck of the first man she
encountered, who happened to be Mike Connell, and treated him to a
hearty embrace.
"Gie mun a kiss, lass!" she called to Nelly, as she loosed her arms
and made towards another victim. "Nought's too good for they brave
lads this day. Oh, Mark, man! but I be proud o' being thy earthly
wife, 'stead o' seeing thee in 'eaven this blessed minute."
This last was addressed to a bewildered stranger whom Mrs. Trefethen
had mistaken for her husband, and who was vainly striving to escape
from her encircling arms.
"Art crazy, mother, to be hustling men in public street thiccy way? I
be 'shamed of 'ee!" cried Mark Trefethen, catching hold of his wife at
this moment. "Come along in house, or if 'ee must have man to hug take
me or Tom here, or Maister Peril, who deserves it best of all for this
day's work."
Nothing loath to do as she was bid, Mrs. Trefethen made a third effort
to express her feelings towards Peveril, in her own peculiar fashion;
but he laughingly evaded her, and she fell instead upon the neck of
another astonished stranger who happened in her way, and upon whose
head she tearfully called down the choicest blessings of Heaven.
"Thee's saved me from widow's grave, lad, which the same, I frequent
saz to Miss Penny, I did 'ope never to live to see; but our 'Eveanly
Feyther knows best, and if hits 'Is will--But there, I'm that
over-set--Nelly, gie Maister Peril a kiss, lass, in token of thy
forgiveness for what 'e's done this day."
So saying, the well-meaning blunderer released her victim, with the
view of allowing Nelly a chance to express her gratitude, and, for the
first time, caught sight of his face.
"Thee's not Dick Peril!" she cried. "W'at's thee mean by scandalizing
honest woman thiccy way? Isn't thee 'shamed on thysel', thou great
lump?"
The poor man tried in vain to explain his innocence of act or
intention, but his voice was drowned in the boisterous laughter of his
mates, amid which the crowd gradually dispersed, while Mrs. Trefethen,
still exclaiming against the duplicity of men in general, was led into
the house by her husband and son.
In the meantime Miss Nelly had demurely shaken hands with Mike
Connell, who was still gasping in astonishment at the warmth of Mrs.
Trefethen's reception. Then she kissed her father and Tom, stole one
look at Peveril's face, and, murmuring something about seeing after
supper, ran into the house.
Although Peveril had not forgotten the promise to his newly made
friend to inform Nelly of his own engagement as soon as possible, he
had no chance to do so that evening; for supper had hardly been eaten
when he began to receive visitors eager to congratulate him upon his
recent act of heroism. Among these was Major Arkell, general manager
of the mine, whom the young man had never before met.
The Trefethens were thrown into a flutter of hospitable pride by the
coming to their cottage of so distinguished a visitor, but, after a
courteous greeting to them, he devoted his entire attention to him
whom he had come purposely to see. After the latter had been
introduced to him as "Mr. Peril," he asked so many questions
concerning the recent incident as to finally draw out the whole story
of that day's experience. He was a good listener, though a man of few
words, and during Peveril's narrative gained a very fair idea of our
young miner's education and capabilities. When the latter had
finished, the major asked him if he proposed to continue his career as
a miner.
"I expect I shall have to," answered Peveril, "seeing that I am
entirely dependent upon my own exertions for a livelihood, and have no
knowledge of any other business."
"Do you mind telling me what led you to choose this line of work from
all others?"
"Because," replied Peveril, flushing, "finding myself in Red Jacket
without 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 in
Mark Trefethen, "seeing as how he introduced himself by saving our
Tom's life."
"Indeed! I hadn't heard of that. How did it happen?"
Glad of an opportunity for singing his young friend's praises, the
timber boss eagerly related the incident; and when it was told the
manager said, with a smile:
"Well, sir, you seem to have such a happy faculty for life-saving that
I 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 evident
ability and steady nerve with us, and if you are inclined to remain in
our employ I shall make it my business to see that your interests do
not suffer. So, if you will call at my office about eight o'clock
to-morrow morning I shall be pleased to have a further talk with
you."
"Thank you, sir," rejoined Peveril; "I will not fail to be there."
After the great man had departed, the Trefethens indulged in many
speculations as to what he intended to do for their guest; nor was
Peveril himself devoid of a hopeful curiosity in the same direction.
"Mayhap he'll make 'ee store-keeper," suggested Mrs. Trefethen; "hand
if 'e only will, Maister Peril, me and Miss Penny 'll take all our
trade to thy shop, though they do say has 'ow company ginghams woan't
wash, while has for white goods, they've poorest stock in hall Red
Jacket. Same time, there's many other little things can be 'ad
reasonable, and Miss Penny's a lady as isn't above buying 'er own
groceries, which hit's a treat to see 'er taking, a taste of this or a
nibble at that, and always giving shopkeeper the benefit of 'er
hexperience."
"Store-keeper be danged!" growled Mark Trefethen. "'Tisn't likely
they'll try to make a counter-jumper outen a lad of Maister Peril's
size and weight o' fist, to say nothing of his l'arnin'. No, no. More
like he'll get a good berth underground--foreman of gang, or plat
boss, or summut like that."
Tom thought it might be a job connected with the railroad, which was
his own ambition; while Nelly, usually so ready with her tongue, for a
wonder kept silent and made no suggestions.
On the following morning, when, promptly at eight o'clock, Peveril
presented himself at the manager's office, his patience was tried by
being compelled to wait in an anteroom for more than an hour while the
great man despatched an immense amount of business with many
subordinates. Richard could not help overhearing many of the
conversations carried on in the private office, and, as he listened,
was filled with admiration at the decisive readiness with which the
manager disposed of one difficult problem after another.
Finally, when all the others had been dismissed, Peveril was summoned
to the inner room, where, after a word of regret at having kept him so
long in waiting, the manager bade him be seated, and said:
"Mr. Peril, it is so evident that you have been accustomed to a
position far removed from that of a common laborer, that I am desirous
of knowing something more of your life before intrusting you with a
responsibility. Do you mind telling me what brought you to this
section 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 Copper
Princess."
"Um! I remember hearing the name; and, if I am not mistaken, it
applied to a worthless property on which a large sum of money was
squandered 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 worse
folly has caused a gentleman to seek employment as a common miner,
though I cannot hold out the slightest hope that you will ever recover
a dollar from your property. Still, I will make inquiries, and let you
know anything I may learn."
"Thank you, sir."
"Do you know anything about boats?" asked the manager, abruptly
changing 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 will
find awaiting you on the company's tug down at the landing. They are
going some distance up the coast, to recover whatever may be found of
a valuable timber raft belonging to us, and wrecked near Laughing Fish
Cove 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 lay
claim to them, and even take them by force if necessary. The tug will
leave you at the cove, where you will establish a camp, and to which
you will raft the recovered logs, holding them against her return,
which will be in about a week. Here is a note of introduction to her
captain. 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 of
promptness, rose to leave.
"By the way," said the other, as he reached the door, "is your name
Peril?"
"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 missive
that he acknowledged to be for him, and which, as he thrust it into
his pocket, he saw with a thrill of joy was addressed in the
handwriting of Rose Bonnifay.