to him that hath-第50章

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As　he　spoke；　a　huge　man　ran　out　from　the　crowd　and；　with　an　oath；
flung　himself　at　Maitland。　　But　before　he　came　within　striking
distance；　an　axe　handle　flashed　and　the　man　went　down　like　a　log。

〃Axe　handles！〃　shouted　Maitland。　　〃But　steady；　men！〃

Over　the　heads　of　the　advancing　line；　the　axe　handles　swung；　men
dropping　before　them　at　every　step。　　At　once　the　crowd　began　a
hasty　retreat；　till　the　pressure　upon　the　back　lines　made　it
impossible　for　those　in　front　to　escape。　　From　over　the　heads　of
the　crowd　rocks　began　to　fly。　　A　number　of　his　specials　were
wounded　and　for　a　moment　the　advance　hung　fire。　　Down　through　the
crowd　came　a　fireman；　dragging　with　him　a　hose　preparatory　to
getting　into　action。

〃Hello；　there！〃　called　Maitland。　　The　fireman　looked　up　at　him。
Jack　sprang　down　to　his　side。　　〃I　want　to　clear　this　street；〃　he
said。　　〃You　can　do　it　for　me。〃

〃Well；　I　can　try；〃　said　the　fireman　with　a　grin；　and　turning　his
hose　toward　the　crowd；　gave　the　signal　for　the　water；　holding　the
nozzle　at　an　angle　slightly　off　the　perpendicular。　　In　a　very　few
moments　the　crowd　in　the　rear　found　themselves　under　a　deluge　of
falling　water；　and　immediately　they　took　to　their　heels；　followed
as　rapidly　as　possible　by　those　in　front。　　Then；　levelling　his
nozzle；　the　fireman　proceeded　to　wash　back　from　either　side　of　the
street　those　who　had　sought　refuge　there；　and　before　many　minutes
had　elapsed；　the　street　was　cleared；　and　in　command　of　Maitland's
specials。

Leaving　the　street　under　guard；　Maitland　and　his　specials　went　to
the　help　of　the　Chief；　who　was　hampered　more　or　less　by　His
Worship；　the　Mayor；　and　very　considerably　by　Mr。　McGinnis；　who　had
meantime　arrived；　mad　with　rage　and　demanding　blood；　and　proceeded
to　clear　up　the　foundry　yard；　and　rescue　the　strike…breakers　who
had　taken　refuge　within　the　burning　building　and　in　holes　and
corners　about　the　premises。　　It　was　no　light　matter；　but　under　the
patient；　good…natured　but　resolute　direction　of　the　Chief；　they
finally　completed　their　job；　rounding　up　the　strike…breakers　in　a
corner　of　the　yard　and　driving　off　their　assailants　to　a　safe
distance。

There　remained　still　the　most　difficult　part　of　their　task。　　The
strike…breakers　must　be　got　to　the　Police　Headquarters；　the　nearest
available　place　of　safety。　　For；　on　the　street　beyond　the　water
line；　the　crowd　was　still　waiting　in　wrathful　mood。　　The　foundry
was　a　wreck；　but　even　this　did　not　satisfy　the　fury　of　the
strikers；　which　had　been　excited　by　the　presence　of　the　strike…
breakers　imported　by　McGinnis。　　For　the　more　seriously　injured；
ambulances　were　called；　and　these　were　safely　got　off　under　police
guard　to　the　General　Hospital。

The　Chief　entered　into　consultation　with　the　Mayor：

〃The　only　safe　place　within　reach；〃　he　said；　〃is　Police　Headquarters。
And　the　shortest　and　best　route　is　up　the　hill　to　the　left。　　But
unfortunately；　that　is　where　the　big　crowd　is　gathered。　　There　are
not　so　many　if　we　take　the　route　to　the　right；　but　that　is　a　longer
way　round。〃

〃Put　the　men　in　your　cars；　Chief；〃　said　McGinnis；　〃and　smash　your
way　through。　　They　can't　stop　you。〃

〃Yes；　and　kill　a　dozen　or　so；〃　said　the　Chief。

〃Why　not？　　Aren't　they　breaking　the　law？〃

〃Oh；　well；　Mr。　McGinnis；〃　said　the　Chief；　〃it　is　easy　to　kill　men。
The　trouble　is　they　are　no　use　to　anybody　after　they　are　dead。　　No；
we　must　have　no　killing　to…night。　　To…morrow　we'd　be　sorry　for　it。〃

〃Let　us　drive　up　and　see　them；〃　suggested　the　Mayor。　　〃Let　me　talk
to　the　boys。　　The　boys　know　me。〃

The　Chief　did　not　appear　to　be　greatly　in　love　with　the　suggestion
of　the　Mayor。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃it　would　do　no　harm　to　drive　up　and　have　a　look
at　them。　　We'll　see　how　they　are　fixed；　anyway。　　I　think；　Mr。
McGinnis；　you　had　better　remain　on　guard　here。　　The　Mayor　and
Captain　Maitland　will　come　with　me。〃

Commandeering　Rupert　and　his　car；　the　Chief　took　his　party　at　a
moderate　pace　up　the　street；　at　the　top　of　which　the　crowd　stood
waiting　in　compact　masses。　　Into　these　masses　Rupert　recklessly
drove　his　car。

〃Steady　there；　Stillwell；〃　warned　the　Chief。　　〃You'll　hurt
someone。〃

〃Hurt　them？〃　said　Rupert。　　〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃Certainly　not　to　hurt　anyone；〃　replied　the　Chief　quietly。　　〃The
function　of　my　police　force　is　the　protection　of　citizens。　　Halt
there！〃

The　Chief　stepped　out　among　the　strikers　and　stood　in　the　glare　of
the　headlights。

〃Well；　boys；〃　he　said　pleasantly；　〃don't　you　think　it　is　time　to
get　home？　　I　think　you　have　done　enough　damage　to…night　already。　　I
am　going　to　give　you　a　chance　to　get　away。　　We　don't　want　to　hurt
anyone　and　we　don't　want　to　have　any　of　you　down　for　five　years　or
so。〃

Then　the　Mayor　spoke　up。　　〃Men；　this　is　a　most　disgraceful　thing。
Most　deplorable。　　Think　of　the　stain　upon　the　good　name　of　our　fair
city。〃

Howls　of　derision　drowned　his　further　speech　for　a　time。

〃Now；　boys；〃　he　continued；　〃can't　we　end　this　thing　right　here？
Why　can't　you　disperse　quietly　and　go　to　your　homes？　　What　do　you
want　here；　anyway？〃

〃Scabs！〃　yelled　a　voice；　followed　by　a　savage　yell　from　the　crowd。

〃Men；〃　said　the　Chief　sharply；　〃you　know　me。　　I　want　this　street
cleared。　　I　shall　return　here　in　five　minutes　and　anyone　seeking　to
stop　me　will　do　so　at　his　own　risk。　　I　have　a　hundred　men　down
there　and　this　time　they　won't　give　you　the　soft　end　of　the　club。〃

〃We　want　them　sulphurously　described　scabs；〃　yelled　a　voice。　　〃We
ain't　goin'　to　kill　them；　Chief。　　They're　lousy。　　We　want　to　give
'em　a　bath。〃　　And　a　savage　yell　of　laughter　greeted　the　remark。　　On
every　hand　the　word　was　taken　up：　　〃A　bath！　　A　bath！　　The　river！
The　river！〃　　The　savage　laughter　of　the　crowd　was　even　more
horrible　than　their　rage。

〃All　right；　boys。　　We　are　coming　back　and　we　are　going　through。
Leave　this　street　clear　or　take　your　chances！　　It's　up　to　you！〃　　So
saying；　the　car　was　turned　about　and　the　party　proceeded　back　to
the　foundry。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Chief？〃　inquired　the　Mayor　anxiously。

〃There　are　a　lot　of　soldiers　in　that　crowd；〃　said　the　Chief。　　〃I
don't　like　the　looks　of　them。　　They　are　too　steady。　　I　hate　to
smash　through　them。〃

Arrived　at　the　foundry；　the　Chief　paced　up　and　down；　pondering　his
problem。　　He　called　Maitland　to　his　side。

〃How　many　cars　have　we　here；　Maitland？〃　he　inquired。

〃Some　fifteen；　I　think。　　And　there　are　five　or　six　more　parked　down
on　the　street。〃

〃That　would　be　enough；〃　said　the　Chief。　　〃I　hate　the　idea　of
smashing　through　that　crowd。　　You　see；　some　of　those　boys　went
through　hell　with　me　and　I　hate　to　hurt　them。〃

〃Why　not　try　a　ruse？〃　suggested　Maitland。　　〃Divide　your　party。　　You
take　five　or　six　cars　with　constables　up　the　hill　to　that　crowd
there。　　Let　me　take　the　strikebreakers　and　the　rest　of　the　cars　and
make　a　dash　to　the　right。　　It's　a　longer　way　round　but　with　the
streets　clear；　we　can　arrive　at　Headquarters　in　a　very　few
minutes。〃

The　Chief　considered　the　plan　for　a　few　minutes　in　silence。

〃It's　a　good　plan；　Maitland；〃　he　said　at　length。　　〃It's　a　good
plan。　　And　we'll　put　it　through。　　I'll　make　the　feint　on　the　left；
you　run　them　through　on　the　right。　　I　believe　we　can　pull　it　off。
Give　me　a　few　minutes　to　engage　their　attention　before　you　set
out。〃

Everything　came　off　according　to　plan。　　As　the　Chief's　detachment
of　cars　approached　the　solid　mass　of　strikers；　they　slowly　gave
back　before　them。

〃Clear　the　way　there！〃　said　the　Chief。　　〃We　are　going　through！〃

Step　by　step　the　crowd　gave　way；　pressed　by　the　approaching　cars。
Suddenly；　at　a　word　of　command；　the　mass　opened　ranks　and　the　Chief
saw　before　him　a　barrier　across　the　street；　constructed　of　fencing
torn　from　neighbouring　gardens；　an　upturned　delivery　wagon；　a　very
ugly　and　very　savage…looking　field　harrow　commandeered　from　a
neighbouring　market　garden；　with　wicked…looking；　protruding　teeth
and　other　debris　of　varied　material；　but　all　helping　to　produce　a
most　effective　barricade。　　Silently　the　Chief　stood　for　a　few
moments；　gazing　at　the　obstruction。　　A　curious；　ominous　growl　of
laughter　ran　through　the　mob。　　Then　came　a　sharp　word　of　command：

〃Unload！〃

As　with　one　movement　his　party