STRIKE AT GORDON’S MINE 245 
much. You can have good beer at three or 
four cents a quart, if you will let whiskey alone. 
~«T promised to tell you how to become capi- 
talists, each and every one of you, and I’ll keep 
my word if you'll listen to me a little longer.” 
While Jack had been speaking, some of the 
men had shown considerable interest and had 
gradually crowded their way nearer to the boy. 
Thirty or forty Cornishmen and perhaps as many 
others of the better sort were close to the car, 
and seemed anxious to hear what he had to say. 
Back of these, however, were the large majority 
of the miners and the hangers-on at the saloons, 
who did not wish to hear, and did not mean that 
others should hear, what the boy had to say. 
Led by McGinnis and the saloon-keepers, they 
had kept up such a row that it had been im- 
possible for any one, except those quite near the 
ear, to hear at all. Now they determined to 
stop the talk and to bounce the boy. They 
made a vigorous rush for the car with shouts 
and uplifted hands. 
A gigantic Cornishman mounted the car, and 
said, in a voice that could easily be heard above 
the shouting of the crowd : — 
« Wait — wait a bit, men! The lad is a brave 
one, and ye maun own to that! There be small 
*urt in words, and mebbe ’e ’ave tole a bit truth. 
Me and me mates ’ere are minded to give un a 
chance. If ye men don’t want to ’ear ’im, you 
don’t ’ave to stay ; but don’t ’e dare touchen with 
