to him that hath-第45节

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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　of　constables　were　on　the　ground　and
lined　up　in　front　of　their　cars；　with　their　clubs　and　axe　handles
ready　for　service。　　Still　the　mob　waited　in　ominous　silence。　　The
Chief　drew　his　gun　and　said　in　a　loud；　clear　voice：

〃I　am　going　to　clear　away　this　barricade。　　The　first　man　that
offers　to　prevent　me　I　shall　shoot　on　the　spot。〃

〃I　wouldn't　do　that；　Chief；〃　said　a　voice　quietly　from　the　rear。
〃There　are　others；　you　know。　　Listen。〃

Three　shots　rang　out　in　rapid　succession；　and　again　silence　fell。

Meantime　from　the　corner　of　the　barricade　a　man　had　been　peering
into　the　cars。

〃Boys！〃　he　shouted。　　〃They　ain't　there！　　There　ain't　no　scabs。〃

The　Chief　laughed　quietly。

〃Who　said　there　were？〃　he　asked。

〃Sold；　by　thunder！〃　said　the　man。　　Then　he　yelled：　　〃We'll　get　'em
yet。　　Come　on；　boys；　to　the　main　street。〃

Like　a　deer；　he　doubled　down　a　side　street；　followed　by　the　crowd；
yelling；　cursing；　swearing　deep　oaths。

〃Let　'em　go；〃　said　the　Chief。　　〃Maitland's　got　through　by　this
time。〃　　As　he　spoke；　two　shots　rang　out；　followed　by　the　crash　of
glass；　and　the　headlights　of　the　first　car　went　black。

〃Just　as　well　you　didn't　get　through；　Chief；〃　said　the　voice　of　the
previous　speaker。　　〃Might've　got　hurt；　eh？〃

〃Give　it　to　him；　Chief；〃　said　Rupert　savagely。

〃No　use；〃　said　the　Chief。　　〃Let　him　go。〃

Meanwhile；　Maitland；　with　little　or　no　opposition；　had　got　his　cars
through　the　crowd；　which　as　a　matter　of　fact　were　unaware　of　the
identity　of　the　party　until　after　they　had　broken　through。

Their　way　led　by　a　circuitous　route　through　quiet　back　streets；
approaching　Police　Headquarters　from　the　rear。　　A　ten…minute　run
brought　them　to　a　short　side　street　which　led　past　the　Maitland
Mills；　at　the　entrance　to　which　they　saw　under　the　glare　of　the　arc
lights　over　the　gateway　a　crowd　blocking　their　way。

〃Now；　what　in　thunder　is　this？　　Hold　up　a　minute；〃　said　Maitland　to
his　driver。　　〃Let　me　take　a　look。〃　　He　ran　forward　to　the　main
entrance。　　There　he　found　the　gateway；　which　stood　a　little　above
the　street　level；　blocked　by　a　number　of　his　own　men；　some　of　whom
he　recognised　as　members　of　his　hockey　team；　and　among　them；
McNish。　　Out　in　the　street　among　the　crowd　stood　Simmons；　standing
on　a　barrel；　lashing　himself　into　a　frenzy　and　demanding　blood；
fire；　revolution；　and　what　not。

〃McNish；　you　here？〃　said　Maitland　sharply。　　〃What　is　it；　peace　or
war？　　Speak　quick！〃

〃A'm　haudden　these　fules　back　fra　the　mill；〃　answered　McNish　with
a　scowl。　　Then；　dropping　into　his　book　English；　he　continued
bitterly：　　〃They　have　done　enough　to…night　already。　　They　have
wrecked　our　cause　for　us！〃

〃You　are　dead　right；　McNish；〃　answered　Maitland。　　〃And　what　do　they
want　here？〃

〃They　are　some　of　McGinnis's　men　and　they　are　mad　at　the　way　you
handled　them　over　yonder。　　They　are　bound　to　get　in　here。　　They　are
only　waiting　for　the　rest　of　the　crowd。　　Yon　eejit　doesn't　know
what　he　is　saying。　　They　are　all　half…drunk。〃

Maitland's　mind　worked　swiftly。　　〃McNish；　listen！〃　he　said。　　〃I　am
in　a　deuce　of　a　fix。　　I　have　the　scabs　in　those　cars　there　with　me。
The　crowd　are　following　me　up。　　What　shall　I　do？〃

〃My　God；　man；　you're　lost。　　They'll　tear　ye　tae　bits。〃

〃McNish；　listen。　　I'll　run　them　into　the　office　by　the　side　gate
down　the　street。　　Keep　them　busy　here。　　Let　that　fool　Simmons　spout
all　he　wants。　　He'll　help　to　make　a　row。〃

His　eyes　fell　upon　a　crouching　figure　at　his　feet。

〃Who　is　this？　　It's　Sam；　by　all　that's　holy！　　Why；　Sam；　you　are　the
very　chap　I　want。　　Listen；　boy。　　Slip　around　to　the　side　door　and
open　it　wide　till　I　bring　in　some　cars。　　Then　shut　and　bar　it
quick。〃　　Carefully　he　repeated　his　instructions。　　〃Can　you　do　it；
Sam？〃

〃I'm　awful　scared；　Captain；〃　replied　the　boy；　his　teeth　chattering；
〃but　I'll　try　it。〃

〃Good　boy；〃　said　Maitland。　　〃Don't　fail　me；　Sam。　　They　might　kill
me。〃

〃All　right；　Captain。　　I'll　do　it！〃　　And　Sam　disappeared；　crawling
under　the　gate；　while　Maitland　slipped　back　to　his　cars　and　passed
the　word　among　the　drivers。　　〃Keep　close　up　and　stop　for　nothing！〃

They　had　almost　made　the　entry　when　some　man　hanging　on　the　rear　of
the　crowd　caught　sight　of　them。

〃Scabs！　　Scabs！〃　cried　the　man；　dashing　after　the　cars。　　But　Sam
was　equal　to　his　task；　and　as　the　last　car　passed　through　the
gateway　he　slammed　and　bolted　the　door　in　their　faces。

Disposing　of　the　strike…breakers　in　the　office；　Maitland　and　his
guard　of　specials　passed　outside　to　the　main　gate　and　took　their
places　beside　McNish　and　his　guard。　　Before　them　the　mob　had　become
a　mad；　yelling；　frenzied　thing；　bereft　of　power　of　thought；　swaying
under　the　fury　of　their　passion　like　tree　tops　blown　by　storm；
reiterating　in　hoarse　and　broken　cries　the　single　word　〃Scabs！
Scabs！〃

〃Keep　them　going　somehow；　McNish；〃　said　Maitland。　　〃The　Chief　won't
be　long　now。〃

McNish　climbed　up　upon　the　fence　and；　held　in　place　there　by　two
specials；　lifted　his　hand　for　silence。　　But　Simmons；　who　all　too
obviously　had　fallen　under　the　spell　of　the　bootleggers；　knew　too