Startled by so unjust a suspicion, the eyes of the young giant
instantly revealed a degree of interest which caused her own to light
up suddenly, her red lips parting in a quick, appreciative smile which
disclosed the white teeth.
"Ah, I see it vas not dat. Eet make glad de heart--make eet to sing
like de birds. Now I know eet vill be as I vish. How do I get down,
señor?"
Thus easily driven from his last weak entrenchments, his heart
fluttering to the seduction of her suggestive glance, the embarrassed
Stutter made unconditional surrender, a gruff oath growling in his
throat. He leaned out over the dark shaft, his supporting hand on the
drum.
"Come u-u-up, M-M-Mike," he called, rattling his letters like
castanets. "I w-w-want to g-go d-d-down."
There followed a sound of falling rocks below, a fierce shaking of the
suspended rope, and then a muffled voice sang out an order, "H'ist
away, and be dommed ter yer." Brown devoted himself assiduously to the
creaking windlass, although never able entirely to remove his attention
from that bright-robed, slender figure standing so closely at his side.
For one brief second he vaguely wondered if she could be a witch, and
he looked furtively aside, only to perceive her bright eyes smiling
happily at him. Then suddenly a totally bald head shot up through the
opening, a seamed face the color of parchment, with squinting gray
eyes, peered suspiciously about, while a gnarled hand reached forth,
grasped a post in support, and dragged out into the sunlight a short,
sturdy body. Mike straightened up, with a peculiar jerk, on the dump,
spat viciously over the edge of the canyon, and drew a short, black
pipe from out a convenient pocket in his shirt. He made no audible
comment, but stood, his back planted to the two watchers; and Stutter
cleared his throat noisily.
"Th-th-this l-l-lady wants ter s-s-see how we m-m-mine," he explained
in painful embarrassment, "a-an' I th-th-thought I 'd t-take her
d-d-down if you 'd w-work the w-w-windlass a b-bit."
Old Mike turned slowly around and fronted the two, his screwed-up eyes
on the girl, while with great deliberation he drew a match along the
leg of his canvas trousers.
"Onything to oblige ye," he said gruffly. "Always ready to hilp the
ladies--be me sowl, Oi've married three of thim already. An' wus this
Hicks's orthers, Stutter?"
"N-n-no, not exactly," Brown admitted, with evident reluctance. "B-but
ye s-s-see, she's a g-great friend o' B-B-Bill's, an' so I reckon it
'll be all r-right. Don't s-see how n-no harm kin be d-d-done."