Tales and Novels, vol 2 | Page 6

I would, living or dying, be faithful to my benefactor.
"I now waited anxiously for an opportunity to speak to him; and if I did
but hear the sound of his voice at a distance, my heart beat violently.
'You little know,' thought I, 'that there is one here whom perhaps you
quite forget, who is ready to hazard his life to do you a service.'
"One day, as he was coming near the place where I was at work,
rubbing down a horse, he took notice that I fixed my eyes very
earnestly upon him; and he came closer to me, saying, 'I am glad to see
you better, Jervas:--do you want any thing?' 'I want for nothing, thank
you, sir,--but,'--and as I said but, I looked round, to see who was near.
Instantly Clarke, one of the gang, who had his eyes upon us, called me,
and despatched me, on some errand, to a distant part of the mine. As I
was coming back, however, it was my good fortune to meet my master

by himself in one of the galleries. I told him my secret and my fears.
He answered me only with a nod, and these words, 'Thank you--trust to
me--make haste back to those that sent you.'
"I did so; but I fancy there was something unusual in my manner or
countenance which gave alarm; for, at the close of the day, I saw
Clarke and the gang whispering together; and I observed that they
refrained from going to their secret treasure the whole of the day. I was
in great fear that they suspected me, and that they would take
immediate and perhaps bloody revenge.
"These fears increased when I found myself left alone in my hut at
night; and, as I lay quite still, but broad awake in my bed, I listened to
every sound, and once or twice started up on hearing some noise near
me; but it was only the horses moving in the stable, which was close to
my hut. I lay down again, laughing at my own fears, and endeavoured
to compose myself to sleep, reflecting that I had never, in my life, more
reason to sleep with a safe conscience.
"I then turned round, and fell into a sweet sound sleep; but from this I
was suddenly roused by a noise at the door of my hut. 'It is only the
horses again,' thought I; but, opening my eyes, I saw a light under the
door. I rubbed my eyes, hoping I had been in a dream: the light
disappeared, and I thought it was my fancy. As I kept my eyes,
however, turned towards the door, I saw the light again through the
key-hole, and the latch was pulled up; the door was then softly pushed
inwards, and I saw on the wall the large shadow of a man with a pistol
in his hand. My heart sunk within me, and I gave myself up for lost.
The man came in: he was muffled up in a thick coat, his hat was
slouched, and a lantern in his hand. Which of the gang it was I did not
know, but I took it for granted that it was one of them come with intent
to murder me. Terror at this instant left me; and starting upright in my
bed, I exclaimed--'I'm ready to die! I die in a good cause! Give me five
minutes to say my prayers!' and I fell upon my knees. The man
standing silent beside the bed, with one hand upon me, as if afraid I
should escape from him.
"When I had finished my short prayer, I looked up towards my

murderer, expecting the stroke: but, what was my surprise and joy,
when, as he held the lantern up to his face, I beheld--the countenance of
my master, smiling upon me with the most encouraging benevolence.
'Awake, Jervas,' said he, 'and try if you can find out the difference
between a friend and an enemy. Put on your clothes as fast as you can,
and show me the way to this new vein.'
"No one ever was sooner dressed than I was. I led the way to the spot,
which was covered up with rubbish, so that I was some time clearing
out an opening, my master assisting me all the while: for, as he said, he
was impatient to get me out of the mine safe, as he did not think my
apprehensions wholly without foundation. The light of our lantern was
scarcely sufficient for our purpose; but, when we came to the vein, my
master saw enough to be certain that I was in the right. We covered up
the place as before, and he noted the situation, so that he could