him. He must earn it in competition with the
rest of his fellows. If he can't earn it he must do without, or quit the
honesty that entitles him to hold his head up in the world. There's no
honesty in the things these men propose."

"That's so, Father."

There was decision in the man's agreement. But even as he spoke his gaze
wandered in the direction of two small children, like bundles of fur,
playing in the snow.

"Poor little kids," he said. "Say, it's hell for them with heat cut
off."

Again the tall man nodded as he followed the other's gaze.

"That's so. But I don't blame the mill-bosses. This gang is trying to
steal from the men who've always handed out a straight deal. Do you
blame them for defending themselves?"

Michael shook his head.

"I don't see I can. After all--"

"No. Listen. You boys have it in your own hands. These crooks from the
Skandinavia got a strangle holt on the youngsters of this outfit who've
no kiddies like those. You older boys let 'em get it. You weren't awake.
Now you find yourselves caught in the tide. We've got to make a break
for it. There'll be heat in plenty when you break free. Seven o'clock.
That's the time your masters ordered the meeting for. Seven o'clock.
That's the time they intend to commit their great crime--with you
helping them."

Father Adam smiled as he drove his satire home.

"Not on your life!" The man's grey eyes were fierce. "Give us the lead,
Father," he cried. "We--we just got to have that. Ther' ain't a real
lumber-jack in these forests won't follow it. It'll be a scrap. A hell
of a scrap. Oh, I know. Maybe some of us'll never see the light of
another day. But sure it's got to be. We ought to've gone over from the
start, and stood by our jobs. But I guess none of us with wives and
kiddies had the guts. They threatened our women and children, an' we
weakened. But it's different now, sure. We've learned our lesson. It's
themselves they're out for, an' we'll be their dogs to be kicked and
bullied as they see fit. We'll follow your lead, Father, an' it don't
matter a cuss when the scrap comes."

Father Adam nodded. His dark eyes were alight with something more than
the smile shining in them.

"Good," he said. "I shall be there."

He moved away and Michael rejoined his companions. They talked together
for a moment or two while their eyes followed the receding figure. They
saw it stop and speak to one of their wives. She had a small child with
her. They