THE FATE OF 1C 10 DO RUM. 211 



did so, with the master-workman Jacques at their 

 head. Their demand was nine francs a day, or no 

 more boots in Issoire. The president had ex- 

 pected this. In fact, he had rather hoped for it ; 

 and so he had kept a good stock of boots in re- 

 serve for such an emergency. 



He spoke very kindly to the deputation, patted 

 Jacques softly on the arm, but, in brief, said that 

 the state of the trade would permit no increase of 

 wages at present. Next day the doors of the fac- 

 tories were closed, and each workman received his 

 pay in full, and his discharge. 



For a week the factories were empty and silent. 

 The Confidence Society was not idle, however, for 

 a trusty messenger had been sent at once to the 

 village of Jonas. He offered four francs a day to 

 the Jonas men if they would come over to work in 

 Issoire. Now, Jonas is a queer little town, built 

 all around the brow of an old volcano. I doubt if 

 there is another like it on earth. The top of the 

 hill is made of hard lava, below which is a belt of 

 ashes, very old and packed solid, but as easy to 

 cut as cheese. Long ago the ancient Gauls bur- 

 rowed into this hill and filled it with their habita- 

 tions. These appear like gigantic swallows' nests 

 when you look at the hill from below. One of the 

 largest of these houses is used as a church, and its 

 lava walls are rudely frescoed over^in imitation of 

 the big church at Issoire. Only very poor people 

 live in Jonas now, people who cannot pay much 

 rent, and who do not mind the absence of fire in 

 the winter. And the Jonas men were glad to come 

 over to Issoire for four francs a day, to take up the 



