Tommyknockers…..
There’s a long line of us this morning, scurrying along the cliff path in our clogs and carrying our pasties and cider with us. Our work shift is going to be a week long stint, and out there under the sea is where we shall toil.
Last week the wheal broke down and water started to seep back into the mine. Work was halted as we were all evacuated but now Mr Trevelyan, the mine owner wants us to get caught up…..hence the long shift that we’ve been told to do.
We were lucky that day and Harold Helligan tells of the ‘tommyknocker’ who crawled out of the dark and warned him of flooding. T’were Harold who raised the alarm and I’m thankful to him and the ‘knocker’.
Ahhhh, there’s the mine up ahead. I can see some of our fellas getting ready to go down. They’ve already lit up their lamps….the new Davy lamps, and look unconcerned. That lifts my spirits a little too.
Looking out over the sea fills me with warmth… and confidence.
Today is a good day and I shall ‘earn my crust again’.