"I was afraid of this thing when that fool parade started," he said.
"Sergeant, send out the general alarm!"

"How many men have you, Chief?" inquired Hugh.

"About twenty-five, all told. But they are all over the town. How many
men are down there?"

"There are five hundred, at least; possibly a thousand, raging like wild
bulls of Bashan."

As he spoke, another car came tearing up and Jack Maitland sprang from
the wheel.

"Are you in need of help, Chief?" he asked quietly.

"All the good men we can get," said the Chief curtly. "But first we must
get the Mayor here. Sergeant, get him on the phone."

"You go for him, Vic," said Jack.

"Righto!" cried Vic. "But count me in on this."

In fifteen minutes Vic was back with the Mayor, helpless with nervous
excitement.

"Get your men out, Chief!" he shouted, as he sprang from the car. "Get
them out quick, arrest those devils and lock 'em up! We'll show them a
thing or two! Hurry up! What are you waiting for?"

"Mr. Mayor," Jack's clear, firm, cool voice arrested the Mayor's
attention. "May I suggest that you swear in some special constables? The
Chief will need help and some of us here would be glad to assist."

"Yes! Yes! For God's sake, hurry up! Here's the clerk. How do you swear
them in, clerk?"

"The Chief of Police has all the necessary authority."

"All right, Chief. Swear them! Swear them! For heaven's sake, swear
them! Here, you, Maitland--and you, Maynard--and Stillwell--"

With cool, swift efficiency born of his experience in the war, the Chief
went on with his arrangements. In his hands the process of swearing in
a number of special constables was speedily accomplished. Meantime many
cars and a considerable number of men had gathered about the Police
Headquarters.

"What is that light?" cried the Mayor suddenly, pointing in the
direction of the foundry. "It's a fire! My God, Chief, do you see that
fire? Hurry up! Why don't you hurry up? They will burn the town down."

"All right, Mr. Mayor," said the Chief. "We shall be there in a few
minutes now. Captain Maitland," said the Chief, "I will take the men I
have with me. Will you swear in all you can get within the next fifteen
or twenty minutes, and report to me at the foundry? Sergeant, you come
along with me! I'm off!" So saying, the Chief commandeered as many cars
as were necessary, packed them with the members of his police force
available and with the specials he had secured, and hurried a