THE RESCUE
The capture of Brace seemed to inflame the passions of the mob, and not
even while the buildings were being sacked was the town in such a state
of excitement.
By the time the prisoner had reached the vacant lot in front of the
store it appeared as if every man, woman, and child in the village were
on the street.
Sam and Fred felt impelled to follow the howling, shrieking mob,
although it was not probable they could aid the unfortunate man, and
both pressed as near as possible.
"Billings' gang haven't got possession of the mine yet," Sam whispered.
"How do you know?"
"Because if that had happened we would see Bill Thomas or Donovan around
here somewhere."
"Perhaps they have been made prisoners."
"It isn't likely. Even if they couldn't hold their own it would be
possible to retreat in good order, armed as they were."
"Don't you suppose Mr. Wright will try to do something if these fellows
really mean to hang Brace?"
"They are bound to help him; but I don't see what can be done against so
many."
Owing to the crowd around him it was impossible for the boys to see the
prisoner. The men swayed to and fro as if fighting among themselves, and
after a time the reason of these movements was made plain.
Two long pieces of timber had been lashed together at one end, and set
up like the letter V inverted. These were held in place by some of the
mob, and drove through the fastenings at the top was a long rope.
Billings was on hand acting as master of ceremonies, and when this
portion of the work had been finished, he shouted:
"Half a dozen of you take hold of the rope, an' when I count three,
string him up."
In an agony of apprehension Fred looked toward the store. No one
appeared at the door; it seemed as if the bosses had abandoned Joe
Brace.
"Stand ready, boys!" Billings shouted. "We'll soon show 'em how we serve
out spies."
There was a moment of painful silence, during which more than one of the
mob acted as if frightened because of the terrible crime about to be
committed, and then an old miner cried:
"Hold on! This thing has gone far enough!"
"What do you mean?" Billings asked angrily.
"Just this: I joined your crowd to stand up for my rights not to commit
murder. There's been mischief done already, an' the most of us will be
sorry when we've had time to think the matter over."
"Hold your tongue and go home like the rest of the old women."
"I'll stay where I am, an' you'll be the one to go home if the boys take
my advice."
Then continuing, the old man reminded the throng that he had worked at
Farley's longer than the majority could remember. He spoke of the fact,
that until this day, there had been no mob rule; intimated that they
were blindly following one in whom very few ever reposed confidence, and
asked if they were willing to hang a friend simply because Billings
commanded it.
The speech was a long one, and before twenty words were spoken as many
determined-looking men gathered around Brace to prevent any harm from
being done.
"Don't listen to the old fool," Billings cried, in a voice hoarse with
rage; but now very few paid any attention to him, and, when the
prisoner's friend finished his appeal there was no danger a human life
would be taken.
Some of those who had been most eager to drag Brace away unloosened his
bonds, and at least a hundred stood ready to defend him.
At this juncture Mr. Wright came from the store, and the mob were in the
proper frame of mind to listen.
He explained the true condition of affairs, told exactly why the works
had been shut down, and finished by promising to let the matter be
forgotten, regardless of the amount of property destroyed, in case the
mob should disperse.
"And if we go home, what then?" Billings asked, sneeringly. "We'll
starve to please you, eh?"
"Those who attempted to flood the mine will not starve at Farley's, for
all in the plot must leave. Not one of that party can work here; but the
others shall be treated as before."
"So we're to be driven out?"
"Certainly. It isn't probable any honest miner would care to work with
those who may succeed in drowning their fellows simply to gratify a
spite against the officers of the company."
"It will take more than you to drive us away."
"I can at least prevent you from entering the mine, and that I shall do
even if it is necessary to station guards entirely around the property.
Are you willing to go home now, men, with the assurance that work shall
be resumed in the morning."
"Ay, that we are, an' glad of the chance. It was out of the fryin'-pan
into the fire when we left one set of bosses to take up with Cale
Billings an' his cronies," a miner shouted and immediately the mob
dispersed, leaving the leaders standing in the lot, evidently consulting
as to how their lost power might be regained.
When Brace was at liberty he joined Sam and Fred, and the three walked
to the latter's home, neither speaking until they were inside.
"Do you think the strike is really over?" Mrs. Byram asked, after Fred
told her of what had occurred.
"It is so far as the majority of the miners are concerned," Brace
replied; "but there's no telling what Billings may contrive to do
between now and morning."
"I suppose those men are still in the mine trying to overpower Donovan's
party."
"Most likely; but now that Wright has got the upper hand there's little
chance they'll be allowed to stay very long."
Despite the excitement on every hand the occupants of Mrs. Byram's
cottage were glad to retire at the first opportunity, and before the
tumult in the street had died away they sought the needed repose. It had
been decided that Brace should remain for a while, since it might be
dangerous to meet Billings and his friends while they were smarting
under the sting of defeat.
At the usual hour next morning the whistle sounded, summoning the miners
to work, and every one responded save those who had been warned to leave
the town.
Mr. Wright was at the entrance to the slope, and had a pleasant greeting
for each man and boy, causing more than one to look ashamed because of
the part taken in the wanton destruction of his property.
Joe Brace and Sam went into the drift, leaving Fred with Chunky, and
that young fellow said, as he seated himself at the chute:
"Things have been pretty lively 'round here, eh?"
"I should say so. Were you out with the regulators?"
"I saw 'em once or twice."
"If you'll take my advice you'll leave that crowd. Skip Miller's as bad
as Billings."
"Don't speak so loud; he's lookin' over this way, an' may make things
hot for you if much is said."
"If he didn't do anything yesterday I guess he ain't dangerous."
"He couldn't find you."
"Then he was lookin' for me?"
"That's what I heard some of the fellers say."
"I should think he'd seen enough of such business; but if he hasn't I'll
have to take care of myself."
"Be careful," Chunky whispered. "He an' some of the other fellers think
you are more of a spy than Joe Brace was."
"And they mean to flog me for it?"
"Skip says you told Mr. Wright about their droppin' you in the shaft."
"Hadn't I the right to? Do you suppose I'll let them try to kill me, and
never open my mouth about it?"
"Well, it ain't safe, for he's got a big crowd."
"Then he hasn't had enough of the riot?"
"It ain't that; but he says the regulators have got to stand up for
their rights, an' you haven't paid your footin' yet."
"And I don't intend to. If any of them try to make me it'll go hard with
them."
At this point the machinery was started, the stream of coal and slate
began to flow through the chute, and the breaker boys were forced to
attend to their work.
Several times during the morning Donovan spoke to Fred as he passed, and
at twelve o'clock, when all hands were indulging in the forty minutes
"nooning," and Chunky had crossed over to speak with Skip, the breaker
boss ate his lunch by the new boy's side.
"You didn't come back again last night," he said.
"No, sir. After Brace got away from the mob he and Sam went home with
me. We didn't think you'd need us when the trouble was nearly settled."
"Neither did we. As soon as the men found their senses Mr. Wright
brought a lot of them up here, an' we soon got rid of Billings'
friends."
"Had they begun to dig a tunnel?"
"Bless you, yes, an' were within a dozen feet of Bill Thomas' party when
we found them. If the row had lasted two hours longer we couldn't be
workin' here to-day, an' some of the boys would be under water."
"Do you think the whole matter is finished?"
"Yes, so far as the majority of the men are concerned; but Billings
swears he won't be driven out of town, an' he may manage to do more
mischief."
"Why don't Mr. Wright have him arrested?"
"Because he gave his word that nothin' should be done to them as went
home peaceably, an' he couldn't jump on Billings without bringing all
hands into the scrape. 'Cordin' to my way of thinkin' we've got off
cheap."
"Was Mr. Wright's house damaged very much?"
"It'll take a good many hundred dollars to put it in the same condition
it was before; but money doesn't count when there's been no blood
spilled."
"Do you think there is any chance the men will try to hurt Brace now?"
"That's hard to say. You're in as much danger as he is, for they know
that you and Sam stood in with us, an' it's just possible some dirty
trick will be played. You an' Bill Thomas' butty are to stop at the
office to-night; Mr. Wright wants to see you."
"What for?"
"He'll have to explain that. It's time to go to work again; be careful
of yourself."
Donovan walked away as the whistle sounded, and Chunky came back looking
very stern.
"You'll get into more trouble by standin' in with the bosses," he said,
in what sounded like a threatening tone.
"Does Skip Miller think he can say who I shall talk with?"
"Whether he does or not none of the fellers like bosses' pets."
"Even if I was a 'pet,' as you call it, I can't see how it concerns any
one but myself; almost anything is better than being a regulator."
"I've told you what the fellers think, an' that ends it; look out for
yourself after this."
"I can't accuse you of ever looking out for me, not even when a hint
might have saved me from a pounding."
Chunky made no reply, and Fred understood that, although the riot was
ended, his position in the community had not been bettered. One sample
of mob rule evidently pleased the regulators, and they were prepared to
assert their alleged rights more strongly than ever.
When the day's work was finished Joe Brace and Sam came for Fred, and he
walked out of the breaker in their company, while Skip and his adherents
stood near the building ready to take advantage of the first opportunity
for mischief.
"Don't think we shan't get a whack at you," the leader cried. "Them
fellers won't allers be 'round, an' when our time does come things'll be
worse than they was in the shaft."
"If I ever hear of your touchin' Fred I'll take a hand in the row
myself," Brace said threateningly.
"Oh, yes, you will," Skip replied with a leer, and then led his
followers down the road, each one making some insulting remark as he
passed.
"I'll straighten that fellow out," Joe said angrily. "He's got the will
to do most anything, an' we must take him down a peg before it'll be
safe for you to move around."
"Don't say anything to them, for it will only make matters worse. I'll
see to it that they don't get another chance at me. Sam, Mr. Wright
wants to see us at the store. Will you wait for us, Joe?"
"Indeed, I will. Till things get settled I want to keep my eye on both
you boys."
The superintendent was in his office, at one end of the building, when
the party entered, and he beckoned them to join him.
"Don't hang back, Brace, for I wish to see you as well. I want to take
your butty away, and give you Fred instead. How would you like that?"
"First class, sir."
"I wish to have a few whom I can trust, on the lower level. I don't ask
for any spying: but expect to be informed if there is any serious
mischief brewing. There may yet be some who will aid Billings to gain
his revenge. Sam is to remain with Thomas; but will work near you."
"Very well, sir," and Brace rose to go, thinking the interview was at an
end; but Mr. Wright detained him.
"The most important matter is concerning the old shaft and drifts, from
which points very much mischief might be done. Sit down while we talk of
it."
At this moment Skip Miller entered unobserved by those in the office,
and, seeing the occupants of the little room, made his way behind a pile
of goods where he could hear very much of what the superintendent said.