"Look here, then, mesters--I've thowt this out. It's cowards' business,
ivvery bit on it, 'cept Matt Stivvins this morning coming and fetching
young mester out of the way."
"Yes," I said, "he did."
"And they'll knobstick 'im for it if they know--see if they don't!"
"Then they mustn't know," I cried eagerly. "I don't like Stevens, but
he did save me this morning."
"Ay, he did, 'cause he said once yow weer a trump, my lad; but he didn't
give me a word. I sha'n't tell on him, but I sha'n't hev nought more to
do wi' anny on 'em. I've been union man all these years and paid, and
here's what I've got for it. I says to mysen, I says: If this here's
what comes o' sticking to union through all their games I've done wi'
'em, and I'm a master's man--that's all."
He turned short round to go, but Uncle Dick stopped him.
"I don't quite understand what you mean, Pannell."
"What I mean! Why, what I said--that's what I mean."
"That you have done with the trades-union, Pannell," I cried, "and mean
to be on our side?"
"That's so, mester. Now I mun go or my fire'll be out."
He strode out of the place and banged the door after him; and as he went
along the shop I could see him in imagination staring defiantly from
side to side, in answer to the savage murmur that greeted him from the
men whom he had made up his mind to defy.
"What do you think of that?" said Uncle Dick, as soon as we heard the
farther door close with a crash.
"It's the beginning of the end," said Uncle Jack with an eager look in
his eyes. "Keep firm, boys, and we shall have them all honestly on our
side, and we can laugh at all trades-unions in Arrowfield that fight
with cowardly weapons. The men do not do what their own feelings
prompt, but obey the law of a secret society which forces them to do
these cruel wrongs."
It must have been intentional on his part, for as I went down into the
furnace house about half an hour after, at my usual time, to take down
an account of work done, I met Stevens coming towards me.
We were in the big empty building, the furnace being cold, and no work
going on that day, and he slouched towards me as if he were going by,
but I stopped him and held out my hand.
"Thank you, Stevens," I said. "I didn't understand it then, but you
saved me from something terrible to-day."
He gave a quick glance or two about, and then regularly snatched my
hand, gave it a squeeze, and threw it away.
"All right, my lad!" he said in a hoarse whisper. "You're on'y one o'
the mesters, but I couldn't abear to see thee in for it too."
He went on his away and I went mine, feeling that Uncle Jack was right,
and that though it might be a long journey first, it was the beginning
of the end.