"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.
