"You've a lot to learn, cully," answered Moleskin. "The open ear is better than the open mouth. I was listenin' while you were lookin' around, and by the talk of the men I found out a thing or two. Come along."
We went out, full of belly and full of hope, and sought for Red Billy Davis and his squad of hammermen. I had great faith in Moleskin, and now being fully conscious of his superior knowledge I was ready to follow him anywhere. After a long search, we encountered a man who sat on the idle arm of a crane, whittling shavings off a splinter of wood with his clasp-knife. The man was heavily bearded and extremely dirty. When he saw us approaching he rose and looked at my mate.
"Moleskin, by God!" he exclaimed, closing the knife and putting it in his pocket. "Are you lookin' for a job?"
"Can you snare an old hare this mornin'?" asked Joe.
"A tanner an hour, overtime seven and a half," said the man with the whiskers.
"Hammer and jumper," answered the man. "You can take off your coat now."
"This mate of mine is lookin' for work, too," said Joe, pointing at me.
"He's light of shoulder and lean as a rake," replied the bearded man, with undisguised contempt in his voice.
My temper was up in an instant. I took a step forward with the intention of pulling the old red-haired buck off his seat, when my mate put in a word on my behalf.
"He knocked out Carroty Dan in Burn's model," said Joe, by way of recommendation, and my anger gave way to pride there and then.
"If that is so he can take off his coat too," said the old fellow, pulling out his clasp-knife and restarting on the rod. "Hammers and jumpers are down in the cuttin', the dynamite is in the cabin at the far end on the right. Slide."
"Come back, lean-shanks," he called to me as I turned to go. "What is your name?" he asked, when I turned round.
"You have to pay me four shillin's when you lift your first pay," said Davis.
"Four shillin's," repeated Red Billy, laying down his clasp-knife and taking out a note-book and making an entry. "That's the price I charge for a pair of boots like them."
Moleskin looked at my boots, which it appears he had stolen from Red Billy in the morning. Then he edged nearer to the ganger.
"Put the cost against me," he said. "I'll give you two and a tanner for the understandin's."