The pessimistic Michael slowly blew a cloud of pungent smoke into the
air, sucking hard at his pipe-stem, and laid his rough hands on the
windlass handle.
"None o' my dommed funeral, beggin' yer pardon, miss," he condescended
to mutter in slight apology. "Long as the pay goes on, Oi 'd jist as
soon work on top as down below. H'ist the female into the bucket, ye
overgrown dood!"
Stutter Brown, still nervous from recurring doubts, awkwardly assisted
his vivacious charge to attain safe footing, anxiously bade her hold
firmly to the swaying rope, and stood, carefully steadying the line as
it slowly disappeared, hypnotized still by those marvellous black eyes,
which continued to peer up at him until they vanished within the
darkness. Leaning far over to listen, the young miner heard the bucket
touch bottom, and then, with a quick word of warning to the man
grasping the handle, he swung himself out on the taut rope, and went
swiftly down, hand over hand. Mike, still grumbling huskily to
himself, waited until the windlass ceased vibrating, securely anchored
the handle with a strip of raw-hide, and composedly sat down, his teeth
set firmly on the pipe-stem, his eyes already half closed. It was an
obstinate, mulish old face, seamed and creased, the bright sunlight
rendering more manifest the leather-like skin, the marvellous network
of wrinkles about eyes and mouth. Not being paid for thought, the old
fellow now contented himself with dozing, quite confident of not being
quickly disturbed.
In this he was right. The two were below for fully an hour, while
above them Mike leaned with back comfortably propped against the
windlass in perfect contentment, and the hobbled pony peacefully
cropped the short grass along the ledge. Then the brooding silence was
abruptly broken by a voice rising from out the depths of the shaft,
while a vigorous shaking of the dangling rope caused the windlass to
vibrate sharply. Old Mike, with great deliberation stowing away his
pipe, unslipped the raw-hide, and, calmly indifferent to all else
except his necessary labor, slowly hauled the girl to the surface. She
was radiant, her eyes glowing from the excitement of unusual adventure,
and scrambled forth from the dangling bucket without awaiting
assistance. Before Brown attained to the surface, the lady had safely
captured the straying pony and swung herself lightly into the saddle.
Squaring his broad shoulders with surprise as he came out, his face
flushed, his lips set firm, the young giant laid restraining fingers on
her gloved hand.
"Y-y-you really m-mean it?" he asked, eagerly, as though fearing the
return to daylight might already have altered her decision. "C-can I
c-call on you wh-wh-where you s-s-said?"