"Shut up, or get out!"
"Men, I haven't finished yet. I——"
"Yes, you have! Sit down!"
Some one jerked the lad back into his seat, but whether it was a hostile or a friendly act Rush was unable to determine. He could not even tell who had done it.
"The minutes stand approved," announced the presiding officer, smiting the table a resounding whack with his gavel. "What is the further pleasure of the meeting?"
There was no reply at once. Finally a man in the rear of the hall spoke.
"What about the company's treatment of our demands for more wages and less work?" he asked.
"That is the matter that we have come here to discuss," said Cavard. "In view of the fact that I acted as the chairman of the committee that called upon Mr. Penton it will be proper for me to speak on the subject before this meeting. We presented our petition, which the superintendent agreed to consider after it had been endorsed by a full meeting of the union. Instead of giving it proper consideration, however, we have received notice that our committee will not be welcome; that the company will run its own business. In other words, the company has broken faith with us. The remedy lies with you. I am your servant. But let me ask you, are you going to submit to the tyranny of the bosses? Are you going to let them trample you under their feet?"
"No, no!" roared the miners.
"Then assert your manhood! Show them that you are men; that you are determined to fight for your liberty and your homes."