Chip, chip, chip—down in the dusky mine! Oh, but the rock at which the miner chipped was hard, and the bit of rock on which he sat was hard, and the muscles with which he toiled1 were hard from prolonged labour; and the lot of the man seemed hard, as he sat there in the hot, heavy atmosphere, hour after hour, from morn till eve, with the sweat pouring down his brow and over his naked shoulders, toiling3 and moiling with hammer and chisel4.
But stout5 David Trevarrow did not think his lot peculiarly hard. His workshop was a low narrow tunnel deep down under the surface of the earth—ay, and deep under the bottom of the sea! His daily sun was a tallow candle, which rose regularly at seven in the morning and set at three in the afternoon. His atmosphere was sadly deficient6 in life-giving oxygen, and much vitiated by gunpowder7 smoke. His working costume consisted only of a pair of linen8 trousers; his colour from top to toe was red as brick-dust, owing to the iron ore around him; his food was a slice of bread, with, perchance, when he was unusually luxurious9, the addition of a Cornish pasty; and his drink was water. To an inexperienced eye the man’s work would have appeared not only hard but hopeless, for although his hammer was heavy, his arm strong, and his chisel sharp and tempered well, each blow produced an apparently10 insignificant11 effect on the flinty rock. Frequently a spark of fire was all that resulted from a blow, and seldom did more than a series of little chips fly off, although the man was of herculean mould, and worked “with a will,” as was evident from the kind of gasp12 or stern expulsion of the breath with which each blow was accompanied. Unaided human strength he knew could not achieve much in such a process, so he directed his energies chiefly to the boring of blast-holes, and left it to the mighty13 power of gunpowder to do the hard work of rending14 the rich ore from the bowels15 of the unwilling16 earth. Yes, the work was very hard, probably the hardest that human muscles are ever called on to perform in this toiling world; but again we say that David Trevarrow did not think so, for he had been born to the work and bred to it, and was blissfully ignorant of work of a lighter17 kind, so that, although his brows frowned at the obstinate18 rock, his compressed lips smiled, for his thoughts were pleasant and far away. The unfettered mind was above ground roaming in fields of light, basking19 in sunshine, and holding converse20 with the birds, as he sat there chip, chip, chipping, down in the dusky mine.
Stopping at last, the miner wiped his brow, and, rising, stood for a few moments silently regarding the result of his day’s work.
“Now, David,” said he to himself, “the question is, what shall us do—shall us keep on, or shall us knack21?”
He paused, as if unable to answer the question. After a time he muttered, “Keep on; it don’t look promisin’, sure ’nuff, an’ it’s poor pay; but it won’t do to give in yet.”
Poor pay it was indeed, for the man’s earnings22 during the past month had been barely ten shillings. But David Trevarrow had neither wife, child, nor mother to support, so he could afford to toil2 for poor pay, and, being of a remarkably23 hopeful and cheery disposition24, he returned home that afternoon resolved to persevere25 in his unproductive toil, in the hope that at last he should discover a good “bunch of copper26,” or a “keenly lode27 of tin.”
David was what his friends and the world styled unfortunate. In early manhood he had been a somewhat wild and reckless fellow—a noted28 wrestler30, and an adept31 in all manly32 sports and games. But a disappointment in love had taught him very bitterly that life is not all sunshine; and this, coupled with a physical injury which was the result of his own folly33, crushed his spirit so much that his comrades believed him to be a “lost man.”
The injury referred to was the bursting of a blood-vessel in the lungs. It was, and still is, the custom of the youthful miners of Cornwall to test their strength by racing34 up the almost interminable ladders by which the mines are reached. This tremendous exertion35 after a day of severe toil affected36 them of course very severely37, and in some cases seriously. Many an able-bodied man has by this means brought himself to a premature38 end. Among others, David Trevarrow excelled and suffered. No one could beat him in running up the ladders; but one day, on reaching the surface, blood issued from his mouth, and thenceforth his racing and wrestling days were ended, and his spirit was broken. A long illness succeeded. Then he began to mend. Slowly and by degrees his strength returned, but not his joyous40 spirit. Still it was some comfort to feel able for work again, and he “went underground” with some degree of his old vigour41, though not with the light heart or light step of former days; but bad fortune seemed to follow him everywhere. When others among his comrades were fortunate in finding copper or tin, David was most unaccountably unsuccessful. Accidents, too, from falls and explosions, laid him up more than once, and he not only acquired the character of an unlucky man from his friends, but despite a naturally sanguine42 temperament43, he began himself to believe that he was one of the unluckiest fellows in the world.
About this time the followers44 of that noble Christian45, John Wesley, began to make an impression on Cornwall, and to exert an influence which created a mighty change in the hearts and manners of the people, and the blessed effects of which are abundantly evident at the present day—to the rejoicing of every Christian soul. One of those ministers of our Lord happened to meet with David Trevarrow, and was the means of opening his eyes to many great and previously46 unknown truths. Among others, he convinced him that “God’s ways are not as man’s ways;” that He often, though not always, leads His people by thorny47 paths that they know not of, but does it in love and with His own glory in their happiness as the end in view; that the Lord Jesus Christ must be to a man “the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely,” else He is to him nothing at all, and that he could be convinced of all these truths only by the Holy Spirit.
It were vain to attempt to tell all that this good man said to the unhappy miner, but certain it is that from that time forth39 David became himself again—and yet not himself. The desire to wrestle29 and fight and race returned in a new form. He began to wrestle with principalities and powers, to fight the good fight of faith, and to run the race set before him in the gospel. The old hearty48 smile and laugh and cheery disposition also returned, and the hopeful spirit, and so much of the old robust49 health and strength, that it seemed as if none of the evil effects of the ruptured50 blood-vessel remained. So David Trevarrow went, as of old, daily to the mine. It is true that riches did not flow in upon him any faster than before, but he did not mind that much, for he had discovered another mine, in which he toiled at nights after the day’s toil was over, and whence he extracted treasure of greater value than copper or tin, or even gold—treasure which he scattered51 in a Sabbath school with liberal hand, and found himself all the richer for his prodigality52.
Occasionally, after prolonged labour in confined and bad air, a faint trace of the old complaint showed itself when he reached the top of the ladders, but he was not now depressed53 by that circumstance as he used to be. He was past his prime at the period of which we write, and a confirmed bachelor.
To return from this digression: David Trevarrow made up his mind, as we have said, to “go on,” and, being a man of resolute54 purpose, he went on; seized his hammer and chisel, and continued perseveringly55 to smite56 the flinty rock, surrounded by thick darkness, which was not dispelled57 but only rendered visible by the feeble light of the tallow candle that flared58 at his side.
Over his head rolled the billows of the Atlantic; the whistling wind howled among the wild cliffs of the Cornish coast, but they did not break the deep silence of the miner’s place of midnight toil. Heaven’s artillery59 was rending the sky, and causing the hearts of men to beat slow with awe60. The great boulders61 ground the pebbles62 into sand as they crashed to and fro above him, but he heard them not—or if he did, the sound reached him as a deep-toned mysterious murmur63, for, being in one of the low levels, with many fathoms64 of solid rock between him and the bottom of the superincumbent sea, he was beyond the reach of such disturbing influences, tremendous though they were.
The miner was making a final effort at his unproductive piece of rock, and had prolonged his toil far into the night.
Hour after hour he wrought65 almost without a moment’s respite66, save for the purpose, now and then, of trimming his candle. When his right arm grew tired, he passed the hammer swiftly to his left hand, and, turning the borer with his right, continued to work with renewed vigour.
At last he paused, and looking over his shoulder called out— “Zackey, booy.”
The sound died away in a hollow echo through the retiring galleries of the mine, but there was no reply.
“Zackey, booy, are ’ee slaipin’?” he repeated.
A small reddish-coloured bundle, which lay in a recess67 close at hand, uncoiled itself like a hedgehog, and, yawning vociferously68, sat up, revealing the fact that the bundle was a boy.
“Ded ’ee call, uncle?” asked the boy in a sleepy tone.
“Iss did I,” said the man; “fetch me the powder an’ fuse, my son.”
The lad rose, and, fetching out of a dark corner the articles required, assisted in charging the hole which his uncle had just finished boring. This was the last hole which the man intended to blast that night. For weeks past he had laboured day after day—sometimes, as on the present occasion, at night—and had removed many tons of rock, without procuring69 either tin or copper sufficient to repay him for his toil, so that he resolved to give it up and remove to a more hopeful part of the mine, or betake himself to another mine altogether. He had now bored his last hole, and was about to blast it. Applying his candle to the end of the fuse, he hastened along the level to a sufficient distance to afford security, warning his nephew as he passed.
Zackey leaped up, and, scrambling70 over the débris with which the bottom of the level was covered, made good his retreat. About a minute they waited in expectancy71. Suddenly there was a bright blinding flash, which lit up the rugged72 sides of the mine, and revealed its cavernous ramifications73 and black depths. This was accompanied by a dull smothered74 report and a crash of falling rock, together with a shower of débris. Instantly the whole place was in profound darkness.
“Aw, booy,” exclaimed the miner; “we was too near. It have knacked us in the dark.”
“So’t have, uncle; I’ll go an’ search for the box.”
“Do, my son,” said David.
In those days lucifer matches had not been invented, and light had to be struck by means of flint, steel, and tinder. The process was tedious compared with the rapid action of congreves and vestas in the present day. The man chipped away for full three minutes before he succeeded in relighting his candle. This done, the rock was examined.
“Bad still, Uncle David?” inquired the boy.
“Iss, Zackey Maggot, so we’ll knack’n, and try the higher mine to-morrow.” Having come to this conclusion Uncle David threw down the mass of rock which he held in his brawny75 hands, and, picking up his implements76, said, “Get the tools, booy, and lev us go to grass.”
Zackey, who had been in the mine all day, and was tired, tied his tools at each end of a rope, so that they might be slung77 over his shoulder and leave his hands free. Trevarrow treated his in the same way, and, removing his candle from the wall, fixed78 it on the front of his hat by the simple process of sticking thereto the lump of clay to which it was attached. Zackey having fixed his candle in the same manner, both of them put on their red-stained flannel79 shirts and linen coats, and traversed the level until they reached the bottom of the ladder-shaft80. Here they paused for a few moments before commencing the long wearisome ascent81 of almost perpendicular82 ladders by which the miners descended83 to their work or returned “to grass,” as they termed the act of returning to the surface.
It cost them more than half an hour of steady climbing before they reached the upper part of the shaft and became aware that a storm was raging in the regions above. On emerging from the mouth of the shaft or “ladder road,” man and boy were in a profuse84 perspiration85, and the sharp gale86 warned them to hasten to the moor-house at full speed.
Moor-houses were little buildings in which miners were wont87 to change their wet underground garments for dry clothes. Some of these used to be at a considerable distance from the shafts88, and the men were often injured while going to them from the mine, by being exposed in an overheated state to cutting winds. Many a stout able-bodied miner has had a chill given him in this way which has resulted in premature death. Moor-houses have now been replaced by large drying-houses, near the mouths of shafts, where every convenience is provided for the men drying their wet garments and washing their persons on coming to the surface.
Having changed their clothes, uncle and nephew hastened to St. Just, where they dwelt in the cottage of Maggot, the blacksmith. This man, who has already been introduced to the reader, was brother-in-law to David, and father to Zackey.
When David Trevarrow entered his brother-in-law’s cottage, and told him of his bad fortune, and of his resolution to try his luck next day in the higher mine, little did he imagine that his change of purpose was to be the first step in a succession of causes which were destined89 to result, at no very distant period, in great changes of fortune to some of his friends in St. Just, as well as to many others in the county.
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1
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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16
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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18
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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42
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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44
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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46
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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48
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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49
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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50
ruptured
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| v.（使）破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交 | |
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51
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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52
prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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53
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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54
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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55
perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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56
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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57
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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59
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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60
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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61
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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62
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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63
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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64
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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65
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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vociferously
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| adv.喊叫地，吵闹地 | |
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69
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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70
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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71
expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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72
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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73
ramifications
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| n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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74
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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75
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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77
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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78
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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79
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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80
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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81
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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82
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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83
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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84
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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85
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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86
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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87
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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88
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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89
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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