ok place, in which it was asked whether it
would be wise to buy new bands, and to ask the men to come back and
work; but opinion was against this.

"No," said Uncle Jack. "I'm for being as obstinate as they are. We've
had our bands injured once; now let's show them that if they can afford
to wait so can we. We can't, neither can they, but there must be a
little obstinacy practised, and perhaps it will bring them to their
senses."

"And make them bring back our bands?" I ventured to say.

"Ah, I'm not so hopeful about that!" cried Uncle Bob. "I'm afraid that
we shall have to buy new ones."

"Yes," said Uncle Dick; "but I would not mind that if by so doing we
could get the men to behave well to us in the future."

"And we never shall," said Uncle Jack, "till Cob here ceases to be such
a tyrant. The men are afraid of him."

"Why, uncle!" I exclaimed; and they all laughed at my look of injury.

That night Uncle Jack and Uncle Dick kept watch; next night we took our
turn again, and so matters went on for a week. Now and then we saw some
of our men idling about, but they looked at us in a heavy stolid way,
and then slouched off.

The works seemed to be very melancholy and strange, but we went there
regularly enough, and when we had a fire going and stayed in there was
no doubt about the matter; we were watched.

Piter grew quite well again, and in his thick head there seemed to be an
idea that he had been very badly used, for, as he walked close at my
heels, I used to see him give the workmen very ugly looks in a side wise
fashion that I used to call measuring legs.

One morning my uncles said that they should not go to the works that
day, and as they did not seem to want me I thought I would go back and
put a project I had in my mind in force.

I had passed the night at the works in company with Uncle Jack, and all
had been perfectly quiet, so, putting some bones in the basket for
Piter, I also thrust in some necessaries for the task I had in hand, and
started.

About half-way there I met Gentles, the fat-faced grinder, and he shut
his eyes at me and slouched up in his affectionate way.

"Ah! Mester Jacob," he said, "when's this here unhappy strike going to
end?"

"When the rascals who stole our bands bring them back," I said, "and
return to their work."

"Ah!" he sighed, "I'm afraid they wean't do that, my lad. Hedn't the
mesters better give in, and not make no more noofangle stoof?"

"Oh, tha