a lot of them up here, an' we soon got rid of Billings'
friends."

"Had they begun to dig a tunnel?"

"Bless you, yes, an' were within a dozen feet of Bill Thomas' party when
we found them. If the row had lasted two hours longer we couldn't be
workin' here to-day, an' some of the boys would be under water."

"Do you think the whole matter is finished?"

"Yes, so far as the majority of the men are concerned; but Billings
swears he won't be driven out of town, an' he may manage to do more
mischief."

"Why don't Mr. Wright have him arrested?"

"Because he gave his word that nothin' should be done to them as went
home peaceably, an' he couldn't jump on Billings without bringing all
hands into the scrape. 'Cordin' to my way of thinkin' we've got off
cheap."

"Was Mr. Wright's house damaged very much?"

"It'll take a good many hundred dollars to put it in the same condition
it was before; but money doesn't count when there's been no blood
spilled."

"Do you think there is any chance the men will try to hurt Brace now?"

"That's hard to say. You're in as much danger as he is, for they know
that you and Sam stood in with us, an' it's just possible some dirty
trick will be played. You an' Bill Thomas' butty are to stop at the
office to-night; Mr. Wright wants to see you."

"What for?"

"He'll have to explain that. It's time to go to work again; be careful
of yourself."

Donovan walked away as the whistle sounded, and Chunky came back looking
very stern.

"You'll get into more trouble by standin' in with the bosses," he said,
in what sounded like a threatening tone.

"Does Skip Miller think he can say who I shall talk with?"

"Whether he does or not none of the fellers like bosses' pets."

"Even if I was a 'pet,' as you call it, I can't see how it concerns any
one but myself; almost anything is better than being a regulator."

"I've told you what the fellers think, an' that ends it; look out for
yourself after this."

"I can't accuse you of ever looking out for me, not even when a hint
might have saved me from a pounding."

Chunky made no reply, and Fred understood that, although the riot was
ended, his position in the community had not been bettered. One sample
of mob rule evidently pleased the regulators, and they were prepared to
assert their alleged rights more strongly than ever.

When the day's work was finished Joe Brace and Sam came for Fred, and he
walked out of the breaker in their company,