Work is the universal topic; the weather is too serious a subject to chatter about lightly.
"Last year or two ?" asked the Swede, quickening his pace to keep up.
Tod's steel springs always kept their original temper while the captain's orders were being executed and never lost their buoyancy until these orders were entirely carried out.
"Yes," replied Tod.
"Been a-minin'; runnin' the ore derricks and the shaft h'isters.

What you been doin' ?" And the man glanced at Tod from under his cap.
"Fishin'.

See them poles out there?
You kin just git sight o' them in the smoke.

Them's my father's.

He's out there now, I guess, if he ain't come in." "You live 'round here ?" The man's legs were shorter than Tod's, and he was taking two steps to Tod's one.
"Yes, you passed the House o' Refuge, didn't ye, comin' up?
I was watchin' ye.