His first act was to vigorously wring the hand which Harry
extended to him.
"Delighted to meet you!" he exclaimed. "If I had only known
you were to be above ground to-day, I would have spared myself
going down the Yarrow shaft!"
"This is Mr. James Starr," said Harry, turning his lamp towards
the engineer, who was in the shadow.
"Mr. Starr!" cried Jack Ryan. "Ah, sir, I could not see.
Since I left the mine, my eyes have not been accustomed to see
in the dark, as they used to do."
"Ah, I remember a laddie who was always singing. That was ten years ago.
It was you, no doubt?"
"Ay, Mr. Starr, but in changing my trade, I haven't changed
my disposition. It's far better to laugh and sing than to
cry and whine!"
"You're right there, Jack Ryan. And what do you do now,
as you have left the mine?"
"I am working on the Melrose farm, forty miles from here.
Ah, it's not like our Aberfoyle mines! The pick comes better
to my hand than the spade or hoe. And then, in the old pit,
there were vaulted roofs, to merrily echo one's songs, while up
above ground!--But you are going to see old Simon, Mr. Starr?"
"Yes, Jack," answered the engineer.
"Don't let me keep you then."
"Tell me, Jack," said Harry, "what was taking you to our cottage to-day?"
"I wanted to see you, man," replied Jack, "and ask you to come
to the Irvine games.
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