That was a sad day in St. Just which followed the event related in the last chapter. Many a heart-broken wail1 was heard round the mouths of the shafts2, as the remains3 of those who perished were brought to the surface, and conveyed to their former homes.
Saddest of all perhaps was the procession that marched slowly to the cottage of blind John Batten, and laid the two fair-haired lads before their stricken parents. Tears were wrung4 from the strongest men there when they beheld5 the agonised but tearless mother guide her husband’s hand to their faces that he might for the last time feel the loved ones whom, she said in the bitterness of her grief, “he should never see more.”
“Never see more, dear lass!” he replied with a sad smile, “how can thee say so? Shall we not behold6 their dear faces again when we see our blessed Lord face to face?”
Thus the Christian7 miner comforted himself and his sorrowing family.
It is right to add that such catastrophes9 are not of frequent occurrence in the mines. The danger of “holing to a house of water,” is so great and so well known that the operation is usually conducted with great care, and accident is well guarded against.
Nevertheless, an occasional act of carelessness will now and then result in a terrible disaster. A catastrophe8, similar in all its chief features to that which has been related in the last chapter, happened in North Levant mine many years ago, and in the burying-ground of the Wesleyan Chapel10 of St. Just may be seen a tombstone, which bears record of the sad event as follows:—
Sacred to the memory of James, aged11 20, and John, aged 15 years, sons of James and Nanny Thomas of Bollowall, in this Parish, who were drowned (with three others) by the holing to a house of water in North Levant Mine on the first of April 1867.
A “house” of much larger dimensions, and containing a much greater body of water than that which caused the latest destruction of life in North Levant mine, was cleared of water not long ago in Botallack. The agents knew of its existence, for, the whole region both above and below ground being measured off and planned, they could lay their finger on the exact spot where they knew that an old mine existed. They kept a large borer, six feet long, going constantly before them as they cut their way towards the point of danger. The result was that when the borer at last pierced through to the old mine, there were six feet of solid rock between them and the water. Through the small hole the water flowed, and thus the mine was slowly but safely drained. In the other case, the ground happened to be soft, and had been somewhat recklessly cut away.
Of course, there are occasions—proving the truth of the proverb that “accidents will happen in the best regulated families”—in which neither foresight12 nor precaution can prevent evil; but these are comparatively few. Sometimes the cupidity13 of a miner will lead him, for the sake of following a rich lode14, to approach too near and too recklessly to danger, despite the vigilance of captains, and cause considerable risk to the mine as well as to themselves. Such was the case once long ago at Botallack, when the miners below the sea cut away the rock to within three or four feet of the water, and actually made a small hole through so that they had to plug it up with a piece of wood.
This is a fact which we can vouch15 for, having seen the plug, and heard the boulders16 rattling17 loudly over our head with each successive wave; but there is no danger here, because the cutting under the sea is narrow, and the rock solid and intensely hard.
Such also was the case, not many years since, at Levant mine, where the men working in the levels under the sea drove upwards18 until the salt water began to trickle19 through to them in alarming quantities—insomuch that the other miners struck work, and refused to go again into the mine, unless the workings in that part were stopped, and the place made secure. This was accordingly done, and the men returned to the mine. The danger here was really great, because the cutting that had been made was wide, and the ground overhead comparatively soft.
But, to return to our tale.
For many days after the catastrophe Oliver Trembath lay in his bed suffering from severe cuts and bruises20, as well as from what must have been, as nearly as possible, concussion21 of the brain, for he had certainly been washed down one of the winzes, although he himself retained only a confused recollection of the events of that terrible day, and could not tell what had befallen him. At length, however, he became convalescent, and a good deal of his old vigour22 returned.
During this period of illness and convalescence23 Oliver had been constrained24 by old Mr Donnithorne to take up his abode25 in his house, and the young doctor could not have experienced more attention and kindness from the old couple if he had been their son. Rose Ellis, too, did her best to cheer him, and, as we need scarcely add, was wonderfully successful in her efforts!
It was during this period that Oliver made the acquaintance of a young man of St. Just, named Charles Tregarthen—a congenial spirit—and one who was, besides, a thorough gentleman and an earnest Christian. With this youth he formed a sincere friendship, and although the subject of religion was never obtrusively26 thrust upon him by young Tregarthen, it entered so obviously into all his thoughts, and shone so clearly in his words and conduct, that Oliver’s heart was touched, and he received impressions at that time which never left him.
Oliver and his friend were sitting one forenoon in Mr Donnithorne’s dining-room, which commanded an extensive view of green fields and grass-covered stone walls, with the beams and machinery27 of mines on the horizon, and the blue sea beyond. They were planning a short walking tour, which it was thought would be of great benefit to Oliver in that stage of his recovery, when old Mr Donnithorne entered the room with a somewhat perturbed28 expression of countenance29.
“How are you, Charlie my boy?” he said. “Oliver, I want to have a few minutes’ talk with you in my room on business; I know Charlie will excuse you.”
“I was on the point of taking leave at any rate,” said Tregarthen with a smile, as he grasped Oliver’s hand; “think over our plan, like a good fellow; I am sure Mr Donnithorne will approve of it, and I’ll look in to-morrow forenoon to hear what decision you come to.”
“Oliver,” said Mr Donnithorne, sitting down opposite the invalid30 when his friend had left, and frowning portentously31, “d’you know I’m a ruined man?”
“I trust not, uncle,” replied Oliver with an incredulous smile, supposing that the old gentleman was jesting.
“Yes, but I am,” he repeated with tremendous gravity. “At all events, I shall be ere long. These—these—vile jewels will be the death of me.”
Having thus broken the ice Mr Donnithorne went on with much volubility of utterance32 and exasperation33 of tone to explain that legal proceedings34 had been instituted for the recovery of the jewels which he had purchased from the fishermen; that things seemed almost certain to go against him; and that in all probability he should be compelled to sell his estate in order to refund35 the money.
“But can you not sell your shares in Botallack and refund with the proceeds?” said Oliver.
“No, I cannot,” replied the old gentleman. “You know that at present these shares are scarcely saleable except at a ruinous discount, and it would be a pity to part with them just now, seeing that there is some hope of improvement at this time. There is nothing for it but to sell my estate, and I don’t think there will be enough left to buy butter to my bread after this unhappy affair is settled, for it amounts to some thousands of pounds.”
“Indeed, uncle! how comes it that they found out the value of them?”
“Oh, simply enough, Oliver, but strangely too. You must know that Maggot, the scoundrel (and yet not such a scoundrel either, for the fellow informed on me in a passion, without having any idea of the severity of the consequences that would follow),—Maggot, it seems, kept the cloth belt in which the jewels were found tied round the owner’s waist, and there happened to be a piece of parchment sewed up in the folds of it, in which the number and value of the jewels were enumerated36. This belt was ferreted out by the lawyers, and the result is that, as I said before, I shall be a ruined man. Verily,” added Mr Donnithorne, with a look of vexation, as he stumped37 up and down the room with his hands thrust deep into his breeches pockets, “verily, my wife was a true prophetess when she told me that my sin would be sure to find me out, and that honesty was the best policy. ’Pon my conscience, I’m half inclined to haul down my colours and let her manage me after all!”
“I am much concerned at what you tell me,” said Oliver, “and I regret now very deeply that the few hundreds which I possessed38 when I came here—and which you know are all my fortune—have also been invested in Botallack shares, for they should have been heartily39 at your service, uncle.”
“Don’t trouble yourself about your hundreds, lad,” said the old gentleman testily40; “I didn’t come here to ask assistance from you in that way, but to tell you the facts of the case, and ask you to do me the favour to carry a letter to my lawyer in Penzance, and inquire into the condition of a mine I have something to do with there—a somewhat singular mine, which I think will surprise as well as interest you; will you do this, for me, lad?”
“Most willingly,” replied Oliver. “You heard my friend Charlie Tregarthen speak of our intention to go on a walking tour for a couple of days; now, if you have no objection, he and I will set off together without delay, and make Penzance our goal, going round by the Land’s End and the coast.”
“So be it, Oliver, and don’t hurry yourselves, for the business will wait well enough for a day or two. But take care of yourself, lad; don’t go swimming off the Land’s End again, and above all things avoid smugglers. The scoundrels! they have been the ruin of me, Oliver. Not bad fellows in their way either, but unprincipled characters—desperately regardless of the national laws; and—and—keep clear of ’em, I advise you strongly—have nothing to do with ’em, Oliver, my son.”
So saying the old gentleman left the room, shaking his head with profound gravity.
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1
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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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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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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4
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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5
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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6
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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7
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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8
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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12
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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13
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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14
lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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15
vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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16
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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17
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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20
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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21
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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22
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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convalescence
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| n.病后康复期 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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obtrusively
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| adv.冒失地，莽撞地 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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portentously
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32
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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33
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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35
refund
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| v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款 | |
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enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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38
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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39
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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