In his subtle, unscrupulous manner, Cavard was working up his hearers to a high pitch of excitement.
"This is anarchy!" cried Steve, but his voice was lost in the uproar.
"Your brothers in the independent mines are in the same situation. They are ready to join with you in any action you see fit to take. Their delegates are here with us to-night to tell you so," continued Cavard glibly.
"Yes!" cried a man in the centre of the hall whom Rush remembered to have seen in company with the walking delegate on various occasions. "We are among the downtrodden. We are ready to fight, shoulder to shoulder, with you, for our rights."
"It's a put-up job," whispered Jarvis in his companion's ear.
Steve nodded. "It is a crime," he added. "Those poor, ignorant fellows are being led as if they were dogs at the end of a leash."
"Where are our friends?"
"I am afraid there are not many of them left—not enough to do any good. I see few of them here to-night. Perhaps they understood what was going to happen even better than we did, and decided to remain away."
"It is for you to act," urged the chairman insistently. "Now is your time to assert yourselves."
"I move that we send an ultimatum to the bosses, saying that unless they meet our demands by the sixth of the month we will strike."