"Tell us what you would like us to say to him," said Ford, and another round of cheers followed this suggestion.
Phebe paused for a moment to ask for guidance; the light from the blessed stars was very clear, but just then an added glory was given to the scene by the moon suddenly shining forth. The silver beams brought Phebe a message. "This is what I would suggest, friends," and as she spoke it seemed as if a sudden silence came over the men, "that instead of working the extra hour—for I am sure your day is long enough—you let the new men work with you, and that Mr. Black pay you a halfpenny an hour more than the usual rate—that would mount up in the course of the week; or, if that is not practicable, to work in 'shifts,' as I suggested before, which could very well be done with the aid of electric light. If he preferred the latter plan, I should still advise him to let you work the extra hour at the increased pay I mentioned. Of course this will greatly aid him in getting the work finished, perhaps long before the time. I am not, however, forgetting that the plan will shorten the job for you, but work will surely not be scarce this fine weather. Now, what do you think of my suggestions?"
"I think they'll do all right," said Ford.
"Do you all agree to them, and empower me to say so to Mr. Black?"
"She speaks fair enough," said one man.
"He'll never cave in to all that," called out another.
"But do you agree?"
A great shout went up: "We all agree."
"And will you go on steadily and quietly with your work till you hear from me again?"
"Yes, we all agree!" Every man of them must have joined in that shout by the noise they made.