“Now see here,” said one of the party. “We have a dozen men round this shack, and if there’s trouble, we have only to call for more. Every boy knows what to do. Strikes me it wouldn’t pay you to bring your hobos along.”
Mitcham looked at the others and saw that they were resolute. His enemies were masters of the situation. Bluster and threats would not serve him; but it was Kermode’s amusement which caused him the most uneasiness.
“Well,” he said, “keep them while you can. You’re going to be sorry for this!”
He went out and several of the men broke into a laugh. They had, however, a problem to face later, when they received a sharp message from the foreman demanding their immediate return to work. All were willing to lose a day’s pay, but the prompt dismissal which would follow disobedience was a more serious matter.
“The trouble is that if we leave the shack without a guard, Mitcham will steal his liquor back,” declared one.
“I think I had better see Mr. Morgan,” Kermode suggested, and they let him go.
The young engineer he interviewed listened with a thoughtful air to the request that several of the workmen should be given a day’s leave.
“It would be awkward to let these fellows quit,” the engineer protested.
“If you would tell the foreman to send the boys I’ll mention ahead up the track, so they couldn’t get back before evening, and give two of us a day off, it would get over the difficulty.”
When he heard the names the engineer looked hard at Kermode.