You would not have left these premises five minutes
before you would be in a maze without knowing which way to turn.
Where do you come from?"
"From Machynlleth," I replied.
"From Machynlleth!" said he. "Well, I only wonder you ever got
here, but it would be madness to go farther alone."
"Well," said I, "can I obtain a guide?"
"I really don't know," said he; "I am afraid all the men are
engaged."
As we were speaking a young man made his appearance at the door
from the interior of the house. He was dressed in a brown short
coat, had a glazed hat on his head, and had a pale but very
intelligent countenance.
"What is the matter?" said he to the other man.
"This gentleman," replied the latter, "is going to Pont Erwyd, and
wants a guide."
"Well," said the young man, "we must find him one. It will never
do to let him go by himself."
"If you can find me a guide," said I, "I shall be happy to pay him
for his trouble."
"Oh, you can do as you please about that," said the young man;
"but, pay or not, we would never suffer you to leave this place
without a guide, and as much for our own sake as yours; for the
directors of the Company would never forgive us if they heard we
had suffered a gentleman to leave these premises without a guide,
more especially if he were lost, as it is a hundred to one you
would be if you went by yourself."
"Pray," said I, "what Company is this, the directors of which are
so solicitous about the safety of strangers?"
"The Potosi Mining Company," said he, "the richest in all Wales.
But pray walk in and sit down, for you must be tired."
CHAPTER LXXXI
The Mining Compting Room - Native of Aberystwyth - Story of a
Bloodhound - The Young Girls - The Miner's Tale - Gwen Frwd - The
Terfyn.
I FOLLOWED the young man with the glazed hat into a room, the other
man following behind me. He of the glazed hat made me sit down
before a turf fire, apologising for its smoking very much. The
room seemed half compting-room, half apartment. There was a wooden
desk with a ledger upon it by the window, which looked to the west,
and a camp bedstead extended from the southern wall nearly up to
the desk. After I had sat for about a minute, the young man asked
me if I would take any refreshment. I thanked him for his kind
offer, which I declined, saying, however, that if he would obtain
me a guide I should feel much obliged.
