s emerged from the bushes and from behind the
trees. As they advanced, it seemed as though the road was filled with men.
They came close, swinging their lanterns high to see the occupants of the
carriage. They were a sorry-looking set. The winter had been hard upon
them, though the fault was their own. They had had little to eat; they had
grown thin and haggard; their eyes were sunken; their features pinched.
They jabbered in their own tongue, turning from one to another. Elizabeth
noticed with alarm that some bore firearms, while others carried clubs and
even stones. She was so frightened that she could not have spoken a word
had her life depended upon it. Fortunately Nora was different. Elizabeth
crouched back in her seat. Nora leaned forward, and with a manner
indicative of her ability to protect herself, and her confidence in them,
she addressed them.

"I'm glad we met you," she exclaimed. "You are miners? Then you can tell
me how to reach Mr. Dennis O'Day. I must reach him to-night--within a few
hours. I have a message for him."

They talked among themselves.

"What's the message?" one asked in broken English.

"It's not to be told to every one," she replied. "If you will tell me who
your leader is, I'll whisper it to him."

"Ivan," they cried, pushing a Slav forward, and retreating into the
shadows.

Bending over, Nora mentioned "Militia." The word was magic. Then she grew
impatient. "Why do you try to keep us here?" she exclaimed. "Didn't
Ketchomunoski fire two guns? Wasn't that to let you know we would come
this road and that you should let us pass? We are wasting time. I must
reach my father with this message. Good night! Jefferies, drive on."

The men made no effort to detain them as the carriage started. It was past
one o'clock when they reached the top of the mountain and came to the
outskirts of the town. "The Miners' Rest" was less than a mile distant.
But the horses were tired out. Jefferies could not get them out of a slow
walk.

"We'll go at once to 'The Miners' Rest,'" said Miss O'Day. "I'll see my
father there. If the miners are planning any trouble, they'll be there,
too."

Driving into a little wood, Jefferies drew rein. Climbing down from his
place, he took out a strap and tied the horses to a tree.

"They wouldn't let us drive through town," he explained. "The streets will
be filled with the strikers. We'll walk, keeping in the shadows. It's a
blessed good thing for us that it rains."