"Yes, sir; I'll try," answered Bob, smiling happily. He was delighted at his promotion.
The interview being ended, the boys bade the president good morning and hastened to the office of the superintendent. Angry looks were directed at them as they passed along the street, but the Iron Boys gave no heed. They went on about their business as usual.
Mr. Penton was not in when they arrived. He came in soon after, and the lads told him what Mr. Carrhart had said.
"That's good," said Mr. Penton, rubbing his palms together. "I have arranged to have the machinery working at one o'clock to-day. All the engineers are loyal and I have assurance that quite a number of the men are willing to stand by us. We shall have quite a respectable force at work this afternoon."
"Then we will go over now and start in," said Steve.
The boys found fully a hundred men about the shafts of the two mines. When the strikers saw that the boys were going down into the mine they set up an angry shout. Jeers filled the air.
"Scab! Scab! Scab!" howled a hundred voices. But the Iron Boys held themselves steady, and, entering the cage, were shot down into the mine.