CAVARD uttered a roar and started to spring from the platform on which he had been sitting. In his haste he overturned the table and went sprawling on his face with the table on top of him.
At that moment a crowd of union men came trooping up the stairs with Mike Caldert at their head.
"Hello, what's going on here?" shouted Caldert.
"It's Olsen."
"Scab! Scab!" yelled the miners.
"He's killed the boss! Down him!"
Segunder did not appear to have heard them. His eyes were fixed on the form of the walking delegate, wriggling beneath the table. Cavard released himself, and, leaping to his feet, looked about for the man who had given him the lie.
"Where is the hound? Let me at him. He called me a liar!" shouted the leader.
With a growl the miners surged toward the Icelander, getting between him and Cavard as they did so.
"You scab! Where'll I hit you first?" jeered Caldert, making a vicious swing at the head of Segunder Olsen.