int roar; but all at
once, so it seemed to me, I opened my eyes, and the dull glow had given
place to bright sunshine on my window-blind, and jumping out of bed I
found that I had slept heartily till nearly breakfast time, for the
chinking of cups in saucers fell upon my ear.

I looked out of the window, and there lay the town with the smoke
hanging over it in a dense cloud, but the banging of a wash-jug against
a basin warned me that Uncle Dick was on the move, and the next moment
_tap, tap, tap_, came three blows on my wall, which I knew as well as
could be were given with the edge of a hair-brush, and I replied in the
same way.

"Ha, ha!" cried Uncle Bob, "if they are going to give us fried ham like
that for breakfast--"

"And such eggs!" cried Uncle Jack.

"And such bread!" said Uncle Dick, hewing off a great slice.

"And such coffee and milk!" I said, taking up the idea that I was sure
was coming, "we won't go back to London."

"Right!" said Uncle Dick. "Bah! Just as if we were going to be
frightened away by a set of old women's tales. They've got police here,
and laws."

The matter was discussed until breakfast was over, and by that time my
three giants of uncles had decided that they would not stir for an army
of discontented workmen, but would do their duty to themselves and their
partner in London.

"But look here, boys," said Uncle Dick; "if we are going to war, we
don't want women in the way."

"No," said Uncle Jack.

"So you had better write and tell Alick to keep on the old place till
the company must have it, and by that time we shall know what we are
about."

This was done directly after breakfast, and as soon as the letter had
been despatched we went off to see the works.

"I shall never like this place," I said, as we went down towards the
town. "London was smoky enough, but this is terrible."

"Oh, wait a bit!" said Uncle Dick, and as we strode on with me trying to
take long steps to keep up with my companions, I could not help seeing
how the people kept staring at them. And though there were plenty of
big fine men in the town, I soon saw that my uncles stood out amongst
them as being remarkable for their size and frank handsome looks. This
was the more plainly to be seen, since the majority of the work-people
we passed were pale, thin, and degenerate looking little men, with big
muscular arms, and a general appearance of everything else having been
sacrificed to make those lim