A bit later there was another contest, and I won that, too, with a six-bladed knife for a prize.

But I did not keep the knife, for, for all my mither could do to stop me, I'd begun even in those days to be a great pipe smoker, and I sold the knife for threepence, which bought me an ounce of thick black--a tobacco I still like, though I can afford a better now, could I but find it.
It was but twa years we stayed at Arboath.

From there we went to Hamilton, on the west coast, since my uncle told of the plenty work there was to be found there at the coal mines.

I went on at the pitheads, and, after a week or so, a miner gave me a chance to go below with him.

He was to pay me ten shillings for a week's work as his helper, and it was proud I was the morn when I went doon into the blackness for the first time.
But I was no so old, ye'll be mindin', and I won't say I was not fearsome, too.