"He took it well," said Bob. "The fellow’s face was like a mask."
"He was not so much unmoved as you think," said Mr. Appleton. "I know the fellow pretty well, and I could tell by the look of him that he was perfectly furious. I find my system answers very well. I punish all breaches of the regulations with fines, which are pooled and distributed every month among the men who haven’t offended. Most of the men are quite keen to get these additions to their pay; in fact, I’ve known some of the rascals try to egg on a simple-minded mate to commit some slight misdemeanour, so that he’ll lose his pay for their benefit. They’re queer fish.... Good-morning, Ditta Lal."
The Bengali, who had been hovering about, gradually drawing nearer to his master, and casting sheep’s eyes at the two young strangers, now waddled up, his face one broad smile.
"Good-morning, sir: good-morning, young gents," he said in a breathless wheeze. "’Full many a glorious morning have I seen, flatter the mountain tops with sovran eye,’--pat quotation from sweet Swan of Avon, whose sonnets I got up, with notes, for final exam, for B.A. degree, Calcutta University. Lovely morning, sir."
Mr. Appleton’s eyes twinkled as he introduced his nephews, who were looking at the Babu as at some strange specimen.
"You’ll find several mule loads of stuff we ordered on the other side, Ditta Lal," said Mr. Appleton.
"They shall be attended to instanter, sir. And I shall esteem it signal honour on fitting occasion to act as guide, philosopher and friend to young gents, show them my stores; in fact, do them proud, and all that."
He bowed, puffed, and waddled away. The boys laughed when his back was turned.
"What a treasure!" said Lawrence. "Our old school porter at Rugton was pretty big about, but this fellow would make two of him. What a rag the chaps would have if we could transport him!"
"I can’t spare him. He’s an abiding joy. But come, let me take you round."
The next hour was spent in going over the not very extensive settlement. The boys found that the portion on the west side of the gorge was divided into three. The first contained Mr. Appleton’s dwelling-house, the engine-house and stores, and a set of small stamps, together with sheds for assaying, and a number of huts occupied by the personal native servants and the Sikh garrison. The dwelling-house was built in an angle of the cliff, which rose sheer behind it. Between house and cliff, however, was a space of about three yards filled with heavy beams, which were all loopholed. The whole of the enclosure in which the house stood was surrounded by a bank of earth about six feet high, formed of "tailings" from the mine. This bank was broken only in two places, one for the gate leading into the second enclosure or compound, the second for the drawbridge connecting with the east side of the gorge.