Foley, in his wonder, forgot to hide himself. He stepped from the protection of the furnace.
"Leggo my wrists! Leggo, I tell you!"
"Will you behave yourself if I——"
"I'll knock your head—ouch!"
The tears were actually running from the eyes of the pit boss. He was suffering great pain. But he got no sympathy from the mill hands who had gathered about. They were laughing and jeering at him, not especially because they sided with Rush, whom they did not know, but because Kalinski was not popular among them.
At this juncture Bill Foley came running forward. He saw that his pit boss was getting the worst of it, and that Rush would soon gain the sympathy of the crowd. He did not wish this to happen. Had it been the other way Foley would have been perfectly satisfied.
The furnace foreman dashed around the pit, headed for the humiliated boss. Jarvis saw him coming. Bob stepped in front of Foley.
"What are you going to do?" demanded the lad.
"Get out of my way before I hurt you!"