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twg_000012581100 | all other substances are either spread over the outer rim or washed entirely away. When the tables are full--that is, coated with what appears to be an earthy substance up wards of a foot in depth--the rich tin in the centre is carefully cut out with shovels and placed in tubs, while the rest is rewashed in order that ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581101 | tin still mingled with it may be captured--a process involving much difficulty, for tin is so very little heavier than iron that the lighter particles can scarcely be separated even after repeated and careful washings. In old times the tin was collected in large pits, whence it was transferred to the hands of balmaiden... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581102 | them in wooden troughs called "frames," which somewhat resembled a billiard table in form. Indeed, the frames are still largely employed in the mines, but these and the modern table perform exactly the same office--they wash the refuse from the tin. Being finally cleansed from all its impurities, our mass of tin bears ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581103 | metal. An ignorant man would suppose it to be an ordinary earthy substance, until he took some of it in his hand and felt its weight. It contains, however, comparatively little foreign substance. About seventy per cent of it is pure tin, but this seventy per cent is still locked up in the tight embrace of thirty per ce... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581104 | refuse, from which nothing but intense fire can set it free. At this point in the process, our mass of tin leaves the rough hand of the miner. In former days it was divided among the shareholders in this form--each receiving, instead of cash, so many sacks of tin ore, according to the number of his shares or "doles," a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581105 | carrying it off on mule or horse back from the mine, to be smelted where or by whom he pleased. But whether treated in this way, or, as in the present day, sold by the manager at the market value, it all comes at last to the tin-smelter, whose further proceedings we shall now follow, in company with Oliver and | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581106 | his friend. The agent of the smelting company--a stout, intelligent man, who evidently did "knaw tin"--conducted them first to the furnaces, in the neighbourhood of which were ranged a number of large wooden troughs or bins, all more or less filled with tin ore. The ore got from different mines, he said, differed in qu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581107 | percentage of tin which it contained. Some had much iron mixed with it, in spite of all the washings it had undergone; some had a little copper and other substances; while some was very pure. By mixing the tin of different mines, better metal could be procured than by simply smelting the produce of each mine separately... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581108 | of the bins, about three yards square, he told them it contained tin worth , pounds. There was a large quantity of black sand in one of the bins, which, the agent said, was got by the process of "streaming." It is the richest and best kind of tin ore, and used to be procured in large quantities in Cornwall--especially | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581109 | in ancient times--being found near the surface, but, as a matter of course, not much of that is to be found now, the land having been turned over three times in search of it. This black sand is now imported in large quantities from Singapore. The agent then conducted his visitors to the testing-house, where he showed t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581110 | of testing the various qualities of tin ore offered, to the House for sale. First he weighed out twenty parts of the ore, which, as we have said, resembled snuff. This, he remarked, contained about five-sixths of pure tin, the remaining one-sixth being dross. He mixed it with four parts of fine coal dust, or culm, and ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581111 | borax--these last ingredients being intended to expedite the smelting process. This compound was put into a crucible, and subjected to the intense heat of a small furnace for about twenty minutes. At the end of that time, the agent seized the crucible with a pair of tongs, poured the metal into an iron mould, and threw... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581112 | little mass of tin thus produced was about four inches long, by half an inch broad, and of a dull bluish-grey colour. It was then put into an iron ladle and melted, as one would melt lead when about to cast bullets, but it was particularly noteworthy here, that a very slight heat was required. To extract the metal from | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581113 | the tin ore, a fierce heat, long applied, was necessary, but a slight heat, continued for a few minutes, sufficed to melt the metal. This remelted metal was poured into a stone mould, where it lay like a bright little pool of liquid silver. In a few seconds it solidified, retaining its clear purity in all its parts. "T... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581114 | the agent, "is tin of the very best quality. We sell it chiefly to dyers, who use it for colouring purposes, and for whom no tin but the best is of any use. I will now show you two other qualities-- namely, second and inferior." He went to a small cupboard as he spoke, and took therefrom a small piece | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581115 | of tin which had already gone through the smelting process in the crucible above described. Melting this in the ladle, he poured it into the mould, where it lay for a few moments, quite bright and pure, but the instant it solidified, a slight dimness clouded its centre. "That," explained the agent, "is caused by a litt... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581116 | have failed to extract from the tin. Such tin would not do for the dyers, but it is good for the tin-plate makers, who, by dipping thin sheets of iron into molten tin, produce the well-known tin-plates of which our pot-lids and pans, etcetera, are manufactured. This last bit, gentlemen," he added, taking a third piece ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581117 | cupboard, "is our worst quality." Having melted it, he poured it into the mould, where it assumed a dull, half-solid appearance, as if it were a liquid only half frozen--or, if you prefer it, a solid in a half molten state. "This is only fit to mix with copper and make brass," said the agent, throwing down the mould. "... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581118 | test the tin ore twice--once to find out the quantity of metal it contains, and again to ascertain its quality. The latter process you have seen--the former is just the same, with this difference, that I am much more careful in weighing, measuring, etcetera. Every particle of dross I would have collected and carefully ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581119 | contain; the whole should then have been reweighed, and its reduction in the smelting process ascertained. Thus, if twenty parts had been the weight of tin ore, the result might perhaps have been fourteen parts of metal and six parts of dross. And now, gentlemen, having explained to you the testing process, if you will... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581120 | you the opening of one of our furnaces. The smelting-furnace just shows the testing process on a large scale. Into this furnace, six hours ago," he said, pointing to a brick erection in the building to which he led them, "we threw a large quantity of tin ore, mingled with a certain proportion of culm. It is smelted and... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581121 | to be run off now." Here he gave an order to a sturdy man, who, with brawny arms bared to the shoulders, stood close at hand. He was begrimed and hairy--like a very Vulcan. Seizing an iron poker, Vulcan probed the orifice of the furnace, and forthwith there ran out a stream of liquid fire, which was caught in an | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581122 | iron bowl nearly four feet in diameter. The intense heat of this pool caused the visitors to step back a few paces, and the ruddy glow shone with a fierce glare on the swart, frowning countenance of Vulcan, who appeared to take a stern delight in braving it. Oliver's attention was at once attracted to this man, for he ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581123 | convinced that he had seen his face before, but it was not until he had taxed his memory for several minutes that the scene of his adventure with the smugglers near the Land's End flashed upon him, when he at once recognised him as the man named Joe Tonkin, who had threatened his life in the cavern. From a peculiar | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581124 | look that the man gave him, he saw that he also was recognised. Oliver took no further notice of him at the time, however, but turned to watch the flow of the molten tin. When the iron cauldron was almost full, "slag," or molten refuse began to flow and cover the top of the metal. The hole was immediately plugged | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581125 | up by Vulcan, and the furnace cleared out for the reception of another supply of ore. The surface of the tin was now cleared of slag, after which it was ladled into moulds and allowed to cool. This was the first process completed; but the tin was still full of impurities, and had to undergo another melting and stirring... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581126 | a huge cauldron. This latter was a severe and protracted operation, which Vulcan performed with tremendous power and energy. In reference to this, it may interest the reader to mention a valuable discovery which was the result of laziness! A man who was employed in a tin-smelting establishment at this laborious work of... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581127 | purify it, accidentally discovered that a piece of green wood dropped into it had the effect of causing it to bubble as if it were boiling. To ease himself of some of his toil, he availed himself of the discovery, and, by stirring the metal with a piece of green wood, caused such a commotion that the end in view | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581128 | was accomplished much more effectually and speedily than by the old process. The lazy man's plan, we need scarcely add, is now universally adopted. The last operation was to run the metal into moulds with the smelter's name on them, and these ingots, being of portable size, were ready for sale. While the agent was busi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581129 | Charles Tregarthen some portions of the work, Oliver stepped aside and accosted Joe Tonkin. "So, friend," he said, with a smile, "it seems that smuggling is not your only business?" "No, sur, it ain't," replied Joe, with a grin. "I'm a jack-of-all-trades--a smelter, as you do see, an' a miner _also_, when it suits me."... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581130 | my man, for it gives you a chance of coming in contact with better men than smugglers--although I'm free to confess that there _is_ some good among them too. I don't forget that your comrade Jim Cuttance hauled me out of the sea. Where is he?" "Don't knaw, sur," replied Tonkin, with an angry frown; "he and I don't pull | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581131 | well together. We've parted now." Oliver glanced at the man, and as he observed his stern, proud expression of face, and his huge, powerful frame, he came to the conclusion that Cuttance had met a man of equal power and force of character with himself, and was glad to get rid of him. "But I have not gi'n up smuggling," | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581132 | added the man, with a smile. "It do pay pretty well, and is more hearty-like than this sort o' thing." "I'd advise you to fall back on mining," said Oliver. "It is hard work, I know, but it is honest labour, and as far as I have seen, there does not appear to be a more free, hearty, and independent | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581133 | race under the sun than Cornish miners." Joe Tonkin shook his head and smiled dubiously. "You do think so, sur, but you haven't tried it. I don't like it. It don't suit me, it don't. No, no; there's nothin' like a good boat and the open sea." "Things are looking a little better at Botallack just now, Joe," said Oliver, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581134 | after a pause. "I'd strongly advise you to try it again." The man remained silent for a few minutes, then he said,--"Well, Mr Trembath, I don't mind if I do. I'm tired o' this work, and as my time is up this very day, I'll go over to-morrow and see 'bout it. There's a man at Newlyn as I've got | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581135 | somethin' to say to; I'll go see him to-night, and then--" "Come along, Oliver," shouted Tregarthen at that moment; "it's time to go." Oliver bade Tonkin good-afternoon, and, turning hastily away, followed his friend. The two proceeded arm in arm up Market-Jew Street, and turning down towards the shore, walked briskly ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581136 | of Newlyn, which lies little more than a mile to the westward of Penzance. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. SHOWS HOW OLIVER AND HIS FRIEND WENT TO NEWLYN AND SAW THE MACKEREL MARKET, AND FOUND SOME DIFFICULTIES AND MYSTERIES AWAITING THEM THERE. The beach opposite Newlyn presented a busy scene when Oliver Trembath and his friend C... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581137 | zenith of the season was over, mackerel fishing was still going on there in full vigour, and immense crowds of men, women, and children covered the sands. The village lies on the heights above, and crowds of people were leaning over the iron rails which guard the unwary or unsteady passenger from falling into the sea b... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581138 | connects the main street above with the shore beneath; and up and down it horses, carts, and people were hurrying continuously. True, there was not at that time quite as much bustle as may be witnessed there at the present day. The railway has penetrated these remote regions of the west, and now men work with a degree ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581139 | haste that was unknown then. While hundreds of little boats (tenders to the large ones) crowd in on the beach, auctioneers with long heavy boots wade knee-deep into the water, followed and surrounded by purchasers, and, ringing a bell as each boat comes in, shout,--"Now, then, five hundred, more or less, in this boat; ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581140 | for five hundred--twenty shillings--say nineteen--I'm bid nineteen--nineteen-and-six--say nineteen-an--twenty--twenty shillings I'm bid--say twenty-one--shall I make it twenty-one shillings for any person?" etcetera. The bells and voices of these auctioneers, loud though they be, are mild compared with the shouts of me... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581141 | and horses with laden carts gallop away over the sands at furious speed, while others come dashing back for more fish. And there is need for all this furious haste, for trains, like time and tide, wait for no man, and prices vary according to trains. Just before the starting of one, you will hear the auctioneers put th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581142 | up at shillings, shillings, and even shillings a hundred, and in the next half-hour, after the train is gone, and no chance remains of any more of the fish being got into the London market by the following morning, the price suddenly falls to shillings a hundred, sometimes even less. There is need for haste, too, becau... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581143 | fish is very great, for there are sometimes two hundred boats at anchor in the bay, each with four thousand fish on the average, which must all be washed and packed in four or five hours. Yes, the old days cannot be compared with the present times, when, between the months of April and June, the three hundred boats of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581144 | Mounts Bay will land little short of three thousand tons of mackerel, and the railway, for the mere carriage of these to London, Manchester, Birmingham, etcetera, will clear above , pounds! Nevertheless, the busy, bustling, hearty nature of the scene on Newlyn beach in days of yore was not so very different as one migh... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581145 | present time. The men were not less energetic then than now; the women were not less eager; the children were quite as wild and mischievous, and the bustle and noise apparently, if not really, as great. "What interests you?" asked Charlie Tregarthen, observing that his companion gazed pointedly at some object in the mi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581146 | said Oliver; "see how demurely she sits on yonder upturned basket, knitting with all her might." "In the midst of chaos," observed Tregarthen, laughing; "and she looks as placidly indifferent to the noise around her as if it were only the murmuring of a summer breeze, although there are two boys yelling at her very ear... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581147 | she's deaf," suggested Oliver. Tregarthen said he thought this highly probable, and the two remained silent for some time, watching, from an elevated position on the road leading down to the sands, the ever-changing and amusing scene below. Talk of a pantomime, indeed! No Christmas pantomime ever got up in the great me... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581148 | as that summer pantomime that was performed daily on Newlyn sands, with admission to all parts of the house--the stage included--for nothing! The scenery was painted with gorgeous splendour by nature, and embraced the picturesque village of Newlyn, with its irregular gables, variously tinted roofs, and whitewashed fron... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581149 | tide being out, but which, even if the tide had been in, and itself full to overflowing, could not apparently have held more than a dozen of the larger fishing-boats; the calm bay crowded with boats of all sizes, their brown and yellow sails reflected in the clear water, and each boat resting on its own image. On the f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581150 | horizon might be seen the Lizard Point and the open sea, over which hung red and lurid clouds, which betokened the approach of a storm, although, at the time, all nature was quiet and peaceful. Yes, the scenery was admirably painted, and nothing could exceed the perfection of the acting. It was so _very_ true to nature... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581151 | of the spot where the two friends stood, a fisherman sat astride of an upturned basket, enjoying a cup of tea which had been brought to him by a little girl who sat on another upturned basket at his side, gazing with a pleased expression into his rugged countenance, one cheek of which was distended with a preposterousl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581152 | of bread and butter. The great Mathews himself never acted his part so well. What admirable devotion to the one engrossing object in hand! What a perfect and convincing display of a hearty appetite! What obvious unconsciousness of being looked at, and what a genuine and sudden burst of indignation when, owing to a touc... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581153 | cup, and poured the precious tea upon the thirsty sand. At the distance from which Oliver and his friend observed him, no words were audible, but none were necessary. The man's acting was so perfect that they knew he was scolding the little girl for the deed which he himself had perpetrated. Then there was something pe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581154 | way in which he suddenly broke into a short laugh, and patted the child's head while she wiped out the cup, and refilled it from the little brown broken-nosed teapot hitherto concealed under her ragged shawl to keep it warm. No wizard was needed to tell, however, that this was quite an unnecessary piece of carefulness ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581155 | part, for any brown teapot in the world, possessing the smallest amount of feeling, would have instantly made hot and strong tea out of cold water on being pressed against the bosom of that sunny child! Just beyond this couple, three tired men, in blue flannel shirts, long boots, and sou'-westers, grouped themselves ro... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581156 | a pipe: one stretched himself almost at full length on it, in lazy nonchalance; another sat down on it, and, resting his elbows on his knees, gazed pensively at his pipe as he filled it; while the third thrust his hands into his pockets, and stood for a few seconds with a grand bend at the small of his back | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581157 | (as if he felt that his muscles worked easily), and gazed out to sea. The greatest of the old masters could have painted nothing finer. Away to the right, an old man might be seen tying up the lid of a basket full of fish beside his cart, and dividing his attention between the basket and the horse, which latter, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581158 | much to his surprise, was unwontedly restive that evening, and required an unusual number of cautions to remain still, and of threats as to the punishment that would follow continued disobedience, all of which afforded the most intense and unutterable delight to a very small precocious boy, who, standing concealed on t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581159 | with a straw every time it bent its head towards the bundle of hay which lay at its feet. No clown or pantaloon was there to inflict condign punishment, because none was needed. A brother carter standing by performed the part, extempore. His eye suddenly lit on the culprit; his whip sprang into the air and descended on... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581160 | breech. Horror-struck, his mouth opened responsive to the crack, and a yell came forth that rose high above the surrounding din, while his little legs carried him away over the sands like a ragged leaf driven before the wind. To the left of this scene (and ignorant of it, for the stage was so large, the actors were so ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581161 | and the play so grand, that few could do more than attend to their own part) a cripple might be seen with a crutch hopping actively about. He was a young man; had lost his leg, by an accident probably, and was looking about for a cast-away fish for his own supper. He soon found one. Whether it was that | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581162 | one had been dropped accidentally, or that some generous-hearted fish-dealer had dropped one on purpose, we cannot tell, but he did get one--a large fat one, too--and hobbled away as quickly as he could, evidently rejoicing. The cripple was not the only one who crossed the stage thus lightly burdened. There were severa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581163 | aged ones there, whose desires in regard to piscatorial wealth extended only to one, or perhaps two, and they all got what they wanted. That was sufficient for the evening's supper--for the morrow there was no need to care; they could return to get a fresh supply evening after evening for many a day to come, for it was... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581164 | splendid mackerel season--such as had not been for many years--so said the sages of the village. There were other groups, and other incidents that would have drawn laughter as well as tears from sympathetic hearts, but we must forbear. The play was long of being acted out--it was no common play; besides, it is time for... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581165 | upon the stage themselves. "I see old Hitchin," exclaimed Oliver Trembath, starting suddenly out of a reverie, and pointing into the thickest of the crowd. "How can you tell? you don't know him," said his companion. "Know him! Of course I do; who could fail to know him after the graphic description the lawyer gave of h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581166 | the cart with the big man in it arranging baskets. D'you see?" "Which? the one painted green, and a scraggy horse with a bag hanging to its nose?" "No, no; a little further to the left, man--the one with the broken rail and the high-spirited horse. There, there he is! a thin, dried-up, wrinkled, old shabby--" "Ah! that... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581167 | exclaimed Tregarthen, laughing. "Come along, and let's try to keep our eyes on him, for there is nothing so difficult as finding any one in a crowd." The difficulty referred to was speedily illustrated by the fact that the two friends threaded their way to the spot where the cart had stood, and found not only that it w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581168 | but that Hitchin had also moved away, and although they pushed through the crowd for more than a quarter of an hour they failed to find him. As they were wandering about thus, they observed a very tall broad-shouldered man talking earnestly in undertones to a sailor-like fellow who was still broader across the shoulder... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581169 | It is probable that Oliver would have paid no attention to them, had not the name of Hitchin struck his ear. Glancing round at the men he observed that the taller of the two was Joe Tonkin, and the other his friend of the Land's End, the famous Jim Cuttance. Oliver plucked his companion by the sleeve, and whispered him | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581170 | to stand still. Only a few words and phrases reached them, but these were sufficient to create surprise and arouse suspicion. Once, in particular, Tonkin, who appeared to be losing his temper, raised his voice a little, exclaiming,--"I tell 'ee what it is, Cuttance, I do knaw what you're up to, an' I'll hinder 'ee ef I... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581171 | confirmed this statement with a savage oath, to which Cuttance replied in kind; nevertheless he was evidently anxious to conciliate his companion, and spoke so low as to be nearly inaudible. Only the words, "Not to-night; I won't do it to-night," reached the ears of the listeners. At this point Tonkin turned from the s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581172 | an undertone as he went, "I don't b'lieve 'ee, Cuttance, for thee'rt a liard, so I'll watch 'ee, booy." Oliver was about to follow Tonkin, when he observed Hitchin himself slowly wending his way through the crowd. He had evidently heard nothing of the conversation that appeared to have reference to himself, for he saun... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581173 | and his hands in his pockets, as though he were an uninterested spectator of the busy scene. Oliver at once accosted him, "Pray, sir, is your name Hitchin?" "It is," replied the old man, eyeing his interrogator suspiciously. "Allow me to introduce myself, sir--Oliver Trembath, nephew to Mr Thomas Donnithorne of St. Jus... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581174 | said that he was happy to meet with a nephew of his old friend, in the tone of a man who would much rather not meet either nephew or uncle. Oliver felt this, so he put on his most insinuating air, and requested Mr Hitchin to walk with him a little aside from the crowd, as he had something of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581175 | a private nature to say to him. The old man agreed, and the two walked slowly along the sands to the outskirts of the crowd, where young Tregarthen discreetly left them. The moment Oliver broached the subject of the advance of money, Hitchin frowned, and the colour in his face betrayed suppressed anger. "Sir," said he,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581176 | you would say to me. It has already been said oftener than there is any occasion for. No one appears to believe me when I assert that I have met with heavy losses of late, and have no cash to spare--not even enough to pay my debts." "Indeed, sir," replied Oliver, "I regret to hear you say so, and I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581177 | can only apologise for having troubled you on the subject. I assure you nothing would have induced me to do so but regard for my uncle, to whom the continuance of this mine for some time would appear to be a matter of considerable importance; but since you will not--" "_Wilt_ not!" interrupted Hitchin angrily, "have I ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581178 | not_? I tell you, young man, that there is a scoundrel to whom I owe a large sum for--for--well, no matter what it's for, but the blackguard threatens that if I don't--pshaw!--" The old man seemed unable to contain himself at this point, for he turned angrily away from Oliver, and, hastening back towards the town, was ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581179 | in the crowd. Oliver was so taken by surprise, that he stood still gazing dreamily at the point where Hitchin had disappeared, until he was roused by a touch on the shoulder from Charlie Tregarthen. "Well," said he, smiling, "how fares your suit?" Oliver replied by a burst of laughter. "How fares my suit?" he repeated;... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581180 | why, the old fellow's monkey got up the moment I broached the subject, and I was just in the middle of what I meant to be a most conciliating speech, when he flung off as you have seen." "Odd, very odd," said Tregarthen, "to see how some men cling to their money, as if it were their life. After all, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581181 | it _is_ life to some--at least all the life they have got." "Come now, don't moralise, Charlie, for we must act just now." "I'm ready to act in any way you propose, Oliver; what do you intend to do? Issue your commands, and I'll obey. Shall we attack the village of Newlyn single-handed, and set fire to it, as did | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581182 | the Spaniards of old, or shall we swim off to the fleet of boats, cut the cables, bind the men in charge, and set sail for the mackerel fishing?" "Neither, my chum, and especially not the latter, seeing that a thundercloud is about to break over the sea ere long, if I do not greatly misjudge appearances in the sky; | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581183 | but, man, we must see this testy old fellow again, and warn him of the danger which threatens him. I feel assured that that rascal Cuttance means him harm, for he let something fall in his anger, which, coupled with what we have already heard from the smuggler himself, and from Tonkin, convinces me that evil is in the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581184 | Now the question is, how are we to find him, for searching in that crowd is almost useless?" "Let us go to his house," suggested Tregarthen, "and if he is not at home, wait for him." "Do you know where his house is?" "No, not I." "Then we must inquire, so come along." Pushing once more through the throng of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581185 | busy men and women, the friends ascended the sloping causeway that led to the village, and here asked the first man they met where Mr Hitchin lived. "Right over top o' hill," replied the man. "Thank you. That'll do, Charlie, come along," said Oliver, turning into one of the narrow passages that diverged from the main s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581186 | ascending the hill with giant strides; "one should never be particular in their inquiries after a place. When I'm told to turn to the right after the second turning to the left, and that if I go right on till I come to some other turning, that will conduct me point blank to the street that enters the square near | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581187 | to which lies the spot I wish to reach, I'm apt to get confused. Get a general direction if possible, the position indicated by compass is almost enough, and _ask again_. That's my plan, and I never found it fail." CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. IN WHICH IS RECORDED A VISIT TO AN INFANT-SCHOOL; A WARNING TO A THANKLESS OLD GENT... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581188 | A STORM, AND A SUDDEN AS WELL AS SURPRISING END OF A MINE, BESIDES DARK DESIGNS. Oliver Trembath's plan of "asking again" had to be put in practice sooner than had been anticipated, for the back alleys and lanes of Newlyn were a little perplexing to a stranger. "Let us inquire here," said Tregarthen, seeing the half-op... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581189 | very small cottage, with part of a woman's back visible in the interior. "By all means," said Oliver, pushing open the door and stooping low as he entered. The visitors were instantly transfixed by thirty pair of eyes--all of them bright blue, or bright black--few of them elevated much more than two feet from the groun... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581190 | them dimmed by the smallest approach to a wink. Nay, on the contrary, they all opened so wide when the strangers entered that it seemed as if either winking or shutting were in future out of the question, and that to sleep with eyes wide open was the sad prospect of the owners thereof in all time coming. "An infant-sch... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581191 | murmured Tregarthen. The very smallest boy in the school--an infant with legs about five inches long, who sat on a stool not more than three inches high-- appeared to understand what he said, and to regard it as a personal insult, for he at once began to cry. A little girl with bright red hair, a lovely complexion, and... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581192 | body so small as to be scarce worth mentioning, immediately embraced the small boy, whereupon he dried his eyes without delay. "You have a nice little school here," said Oliver. "Iss, sur; we do feel proud of it," said the good-looking motherly dame in charge, with a little twitch of her shoulders, which revealed the h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581193 | arms had been taken off above the elbows, "the child'n are very good, and they do sing bootiful. Now then, let the gentlemen hear you--`O that'll be'--come." Instantly, and in every possible pitch, the thirty mouths belonging to the thirty pair of eyes opened, and "O that will be joyful," etcetera, burst forth with thr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581194 | gradually turned the torrent into a united channel, and before the second verse was reached the hymn was tunefully sung, the sweet voice of the little girl with the bright hair being particularly distinguishable, and the shrill pipe of the smallest boy sounding high above the rest as he sang, "O that will be doyful, do... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581195 | his might and main. When this was finished Tregarthen asked the schoolmistress what misfortune had caused the loss of her arms, to which she replied that she had lost them in a coach accident. As she was beginning to relate the history of this sad affair, Oliver broke in with a question as to where old Mr Hitchin's hou... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581196 | Being directed to it they took leave of the infant-school, and soon found themselves before the door of a small cottage. They were at once admitted to the presence of the testy old Hitchin, who chanced to be smoking a pipe at the time. He did not by any means bestow a welcome look on his visitors, but Oliver, neverthel... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581197 | advanced and sat down in a chair before him. "I have called, Mr Hitchin," he began, "not to trouble you about the matter which displeased you when we conversed together on the beach, but to warn you of a danger which I fear threatens yourself." "What danger may that be?" inquired Hitchin, in the tone of a man who held | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581198 | all danger in contempt. "What it is I cannot tell, but--" "Cannot tell!" interrupted the old man; "then what's the use of troubling me about it?" "Neither can I tell of what use my troubling you may be," retorted Oliver with provoking coolness, "but I heard the man speak of you on the beach less than an hour ago, and | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012581199 | as you referred to him yourself I thought it right to call--" At this point Hitchin again broke in,--"Heard a man speak of me--what man? Really, Mr Trembath, your conduct appears strange to me. Will you explain yourself?" "Certainly. I was going to have added, if your irascible temper would have allowed me, that the no... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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