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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