"And I shall speak to my father about your not being here taking care of the engines," said Gwyn, as a parting shot. "If you had been at your duty, no one would have had a chance to meddle. So we will see what he says." CHAPTER SIXTEEN. AN ATTACK OF HEROES. "That was a topper for him, Ydoll," said Joe, as they stood outside. "Phew! what a hot, stuffy place it is!" "We were the first there, Joe," said Gwyn, who had not heard his companion's words. "But what was he going to do?" "Who going to do--that chap?" "Yes. I'm sure he meant mischief of some kind. I'll speak to father. He won't interfere with the people coming to-day, because it's like a sight, this beginning: but afterwards he'll have to give orders for no one but the work-people to be about." "Hullo, what's this?" cried Joe. For a shout arose, and a man stood forward from the crowd, making signals. "I know: they want the steam turned on." Gwyn stepped back to the mouth of the temporary engine-house, told the driver, and he connected a band with the shaft; this started another long band, and the power was communicated to the pump, with the result that a huge wheel began to turn, a massive rod was set in motion, and a burst of cheers arose; for, with a steady, heavy, clanking sound, the first gallons of water were raised, to fall gushing into the cistern-like box, and then begin to flow steadily along the adit; the boys, after a glance or two down the deep shaft, now one intricacy of upright ladder and platform, hurrying off to where a series of ladders had been affixed to the face of the cliff, down which they went, to reach a strongly-built platform at the mouth of the adit. It was rather different from the spot on which Gwyn had knelt a few months before, waiting for help to come and rescue him from his perilous position, and he thought of it, as he descended the carefully-secured ladders, connected with the rock face by means of strong iron stanchions. "I say, Joe," he cried, as they descended, "better than hanging at the end of a rope. Why, it's safe as safe." "So long as you don't let go," was the reply from above him. "Well, don't you let go, or you'll be knocking me off. I say, I wonder what the birds think of it all." "Don't seem to mind it much," replied Joe. "But I suppose we sha'n't leave these ladders here when the mine-shaft is all right." "No, because we shall go along the adit, that way. Father says Sam Hardock wants the gallery widened a little, so that a tramway can be laid down, and then he'll run trucks along it, and tilt all the rubbish into the sea." "Yes, young gentlemen, that's the way," said a voice below them. "So you're coming down to have a look?" "I say, Sam, you startled me," cried Gwyn. "Well, how does the pump work?"