“What you men do,” I repeated.

“Nay, they men,” he whispered.

“You are one of them, and on their side, so what they do you do.”

“Is that so?” he said, giving a piece of steel such a hard bang that he had to repeat it to get it into shape.

“Of course it is.”

“Well, I s’pose you’re right, lad,” he said, thoughtfully.

“Why don’t you tell me, then, who threw the bands in the wheel-pit, so that he could be discharged?”

“Me! Me tell! Nay. Look at that now.”

That was a piece of steel spoiled by the vehemence of his blows, and it was thrust back into the fire.

“I will not say who gave me the information,” I said.