“The women will either be out in the street with the men, or home asleep,” he said at last. “Either way, we’re safe. We’ll cross here and get behind this row of houses and keep on until we’re close to ‘The Miners’ Rest.’ They’ll see us then. But no matter.”
Slowly they pushed their way through backyards. Fortunately there were no division fences. The winter’s crop of ashes and tin cans was beneath their feet. They stumbled, ran into barrels and boxes, waded through mud holes, yet Nora’s spirits never flagged.
As they came to the last of the houses, Jefferies again paused until Nora and Elizabeth came up to him.
“There at the corner is ‘The Miners’ Rest,’” he said, pointing to a low, wooden building.
“That ramshackle affair!” cried Nora. “Somehow I had the impression it was a big hotel.”
“They don’t need that kind among miners,” was the reply. “This is just a drinking-place, nothing more. Every miner in Bitumen is there. Look at those women. They’re worse than the men.”
A group of women with hair hanging, dressed in dirty wrappers, and shawls about their shoulders, stood together under the flickering corner lamp. To judge from their gesticulations, they were much excited. They were all talking at once and shaking their clenched fists in defiance.
“Are you afraid to go through that mob?” asked Jefferies.
“No; we dare not be afraid of anything now. Push ahead, Jefferies, straight to the door, and on through until I find my father. Don’t stop. We’ll keep at your heels. Draw down your veil, Elizabeth, and put up your collar. Don’t speak or tell who you are. Remember the miners know you.”
Following her suggestion, Jefferies crossed the street, pushing his way through the throng, as though he was expected. The girls kept close to him, so close that Nora could have reached forth and touched his arm. The mob of men scarcely noticed him. Indeed, few knew that the two girls had slipped through the crowd. They were talking in half a dozen different tongues and dialects. The effect was like a pack of dogs snarling. No attempt was made to stop the three. They reached the door and Jefferies entered, followed by the girls. Nora’s cheeks were crimson with embarrassment. She was trembling. Her nerves had been so wrought upon that she was ready to cry. But that would spoil all. She must control herself.