's always blacklegs; it's the nature of 'em. There's always men
that'll save their own skins.

[Another savage murmur. There is a movement, and old THOMAS,
joining the crowd, takes his stand in front.]

HARNESS. [Holding up his hand.] They can't get them. But that
won't help you. Now men, be reasonable. Your demands would have
brought on us the burden of a dozen strikes at a time when we were
not prepared for them. The Unions live by justice, not to one, but
all. Any fair man will tell you--you were ill-advised! I don't say
you go too far for that which you're entitled to, but you're going
too far for the moment; you've dug a pit for yourselves. Are you to
stay there, or are you to climb out? Come!

LEWIS. [A clean-cut Welshman with a dark moustache.] You've hit it,
Mister! Which is it to be?

[Another movement in the crowd, and ROUS, coming quickly, takes
his stand next THOMAS.]

HARNESS. Cut your demands to the right pattern, and we 'll see you
through; refuse, and don't expect me to waste my time coming down
here again. I 'm not the sort that speaks at random, as you ought to
know by this time. If you're the sound men I take you for--no matter
who advises you against it--[he fixes his eyes on ROBERTS] you 'll
make up your minds to come in, and trust to us to get your terms.
Which is it to be? Hands together, and victory--or--the starvation
you've got now?

[A prolonged murmur from the crowd.]

JAGO. [Sullenly.] Talk about what you know.

HARNESS. [Lifting his voice above the murmur.] Know? [With cold
passion.] All that you've been through, my friend, I 've been
through--I was through it when I was no bigger than [pointing to a
youth] that shaver there; the Unions then were n't what they are
now. What's made them strong? It's hands together that 's made them
strong. I 've been through it all, I tell you, the brand's on my
soul yet. I know what you 've suffered--there's nothing you can tell
me that I don't know; but the whole is greater than the part, and you
are only the part. Stand by us, and we will stand by you.

[Quartering them with his eyes, he waits. The murmuring swells;
the men form little groups. GREEN, BULGIN, and LEWIS talk
together.]

LEWIS. Speaks very sensible, the Union chap.

GREEN. [Quietly.] Ah! if I 'd a been listened to, you'd 'ave 'eard
sense these two months past.

[The bargemen are seen laughing. ]