“Yes, boss dog sir!” Handy shouted back down before grumbling under his breath. “Well, at least Welcome’s son didn’t skip town on him.” You see, it had been of no benefit to the diamond dogs to chase the miners out. After all, ponies were useful for pulling heavy carts around and good for using powerful earth pony bucks to get that last stubborn gem out of its nook. So naturally, they enslaved as many of the miners as they could. The ones who got away foolishly assumed their fellows got out as well.