gh," said Uncle Bob. "You did not fully
understand how narrow an escape Cob had."

And he related all.

"The scoundrels!" said Uncle Jack, grinding his teeth. "And now this
means threatenings of future attacks."

"Well," said Uncle Dick, "if they do come I'm afraid someone will be
very much hurt--more so than that man Stevens you knocked down."

"And made a fresh enemy for us," said Uncle Jack, laughing.

"And showed who was a friend," I said, remembering Pannell's action.

"To be sure," said Uncle Jack. "Well, if anyone is hurt it will be the
attacking party, for I am beginning to feel vicious."

"Well, what about the wheels?" said Uncle Bob. "Every band has gone,
and it will be a heavy expense to restore them."

"Let's go and have breakfast and think it over," said Uncle Dick. "It's
bad to decide in haste. Listen! What are the men doing?"

"Going out in the yard, evidently," said Uncle Bob. "Yes, and down to
the gate."

So it proved, for five minutes later the place was completely empty.

"Why, they've forsaken us," said Uncle Dick bitterly.

"Never mind," said Uncle Bob. "Let's have our breakfast. We can lock
up the place."

And this we did, taking poor old Piter with us, who looked so helpless
and miserable that several dogs attacked him on our way home,
anticipating an easy victory.

But they did Piter good, rousing him up to give a bite here and another
there--one bite being all his enemies cared to receive before rushing
off, yelping apologies for the mistake they had made in attacking the
sickly-looking heavy-eyed gentleman of their kind.

Piter had jaws like a steel trap, as others beside dogs found before
long.

When we went back to the works the gate-keeper left in charge said that
several of the men had been back, but had gone again, it having been
settled that no more work was to be done till the wheel-bands were
restored; so the fires were going out, and the smiths, who could have
gone on, had to leave their forges.

"Well," said Uncle Dick, laughing bitterly, as he gave his beard a sharp
tug, "I thought that we were masters here."

"Quite a mistake," said Uncle Jack; "the men are the masters; and if we
do anything that they in their blind ignorance consider opposed to their
interests they punish us."

"Well, you see, sir," said the gate-keeper, "it's like this here, sir--
work's quite scarce enough, and the men are afraid, that new steel or
new machinery will make it wors