“Why, lads!” exclaimed Rennie; “lads!” Then, flashing the light of his lamp into the boys’ faces, “What, Tom, is it you? you and the blind brither? Ah! but it’s main bad for ye, bairnies, main bad—an’ warse yet for the poor mither at hame.”
When Tom first recognized Rennie, he could not speak for fear and amazement. The sudden thought that he and Bennie were alone, in the power of this giant whose liberty he had sworn away, overcame his courage. But when the kindly voice and sympathizing words fell on his ears, his fear departed, and he was ready to fraternize with the convict, as a companion in distress.
“Tom,” whispered Bennie, “I know his voice. It’s the man ’at talked so kind to me on the day o’ the strike.”
“I remember ye, laddie,” said Jack. “I remember ye richt well.” Then, turning to Tom, “Ye were comin’ up the fall; did ye find any openin’?”
“No,” said Tom, speaking for the first time since the meeting; “none that’s any good.”
“An’ there’s naught above, either,” replied Jack; “so we’ve little to do but wait. Sit ye doon, lads, an’ tell me how ye got caught.”
Seated on a shelf of rock, Tom told... #story ✝️❣️?️ AcreSoft Story Classic acresoft.com cointr.ee/acresoft