"My fellow-workmen," he began, "I don't know how you all feel about this
matter; but Hope Mills took me in when I had tramped the country half
over, and found nothing to do. I've tried the old system, and this can't
be any worse; and, if I have to lose money by an employer, I'd rather it
would be John Darcy of Yerbury, than any man I know. No man on the face
of the earth has a right to say I shall not work in Hope Mills when I
made my own bargain long ago to do it. That is all I have to say. I am
going to work."

"Three cheers!" cried some one as Gilman jumped down.

There were cheers and groans.

Ben Hay followed him, and stood a moment in the gateway.

"Boys," said he in his rich, ringing voice, "Hope Mills was opened to
receive a crowd of starving men. I'll take my oath to Jack Darcy's
honesty. He's stuck by us, and we'll stick to him. That's the beauty of
co-operation. You can't get away, and tramp off with the first fool that
asks you! It isn't merely keeping company: it's a good, honest,
up-and-down marriage. I'd as soon think of leaving my wife because some
day she didn't give me two dinners instead of one!"

There was a shout of laughter. The ice was broken in good earnest.
"Three cheers for Ben Hay! Three cheers and a tiger for Jack Darcy!" and
amid all this hubbub the men and women, the boys and girls, rushed in
pell-mell. A gladder crew one never saw. To decide when others doubt, to
go forward boldly when others hesitate, to stand up for the principle of
right when others have traduced and blackened it, to take the first
step, is to be as heroic as the "six hundred" of deathless fame.

They went to work with a will, though some were a little sore and
doubtful, but they were carried on by the enthusiasm of the others. The
street below was still blocked up, and there were yells and groans.
Presently there came a shower of superannuated eggs. Two landed in
Darcy's office-window. After that, a stampede of the riotous crew.

Darcy sent Andrew, the bell-boy, to the police-station, and two men were
detailed. The workmen were allowed to go home peaceably, except a little
jeering at Keppler's. They heard then the trains had been stopped on the
two roads leading out of Yerbury. The whole world seemed to be going
crazy.

Darcy and Cameron remained in the mill that night until almost ten: then
the latter went home, and Darcy thought he would go for Ben Hay. The
streets of Yerbury had presented a very peculiar