"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?"