"You'd better come too," I answered, making for the ladder.
He wasn't coming but I couldn't get up very well without him so he followed along behind. At the top we found the foreman fighting mad and trying to spur on another gang to go down. They wouldn't move. When he saw us come up he turned upon Dan.
"Who ordered you out of there?" he growled.
"The gas," answered Dan.
"Gas be damned," shouted the foreman. "You're a bunch of white livered cowards—all of you."
I saw Dan double up his fists and start towards the man. The latter checked him with a command.
"Go back down there or you're fired," he said to him.
Dan turned red. Then I saw his jaws come together.
"Begod!" he answered. "You shan't fire me, anyhow."
Without another word he started down the ladder again. I saw the Italians crowd together and watch him. By that time my head was clearer but my legs were weak. I sat down a moment uncertain what to do. Then I heard someone shout: