letters
and other unearned increment. So Peter was not obstinate this time.
"It's such a simple matter that I can have the papers drawn while you
wait, if you've half an hour to spare." Peter did this, thinking it
would keep them longer, but later it occurred to him it would have been
better to find some other reason, and leave the papers, because then
Leonore would have had to come again soon. Peter was not quite as cool
and far-seeing as he was normally.

He regretted his error the more when they all took his suggestion that
they go into his study. Peter rang for his head clerk, and explained
what was needed with great rapidity, and then left the latter and went
into the study.

"I wonder what he's in such a hurry for?" said the clerk, retiring with
the papers.

When Peter entered the library he found Leonore and Watts reposing in
chairs, and Dennis standing in front of them, speaking. This was what
Dennis was saying:

"'Schatter, boys, an' find me a sledge.' Shure, we thought it was
demented he was, but he was the only cool man, an' orders were orders.
Dooley, he found one, an' then the captain went to the rails an' gave it
a swing, an' struck the bolts crosswise like, so that the heads flew
off, like they was shootin' stars. Then he struck the rails sideways, so
as to loosen them from the ties. Then says he: 'Half a dozen av yez take
off yez belts an' strap these rails together!' Even then we didn't
understand, but we did it All this time the dirty spal--Oi ask yez
pardon, miss--all this time the strikers were pluggin' at us, an'
bullets flyin' like fun. 'Drop your muskets,' says the captain, when we
had done; 'fall in along those rails. Pick them up, and double-quick for
the shed door,' says he, just as if he was on parade. Then we saw what
he was afther, and double-quick we went. Begobs, that door went down as
if it was paper. He was the first in. 'Stand back,' says he, 'till Oi
see what's needed.' Yez should have seen him walk into that sheet av
flame, an' stand theer, quiet-like, thinkin', an' it so hot that we at
the door were coverin' our faces to save them from scorchin'. Then he
says: 'Get your muskets!' We went, an' Moike says to me: 'It's no good.
No man can touch them cars. He's goin' to attind to the strikers,' But
not he. He came out, an' he says: 'B'ys, it's hot in there, but, if you
don't mind a bit av a burn, we can get the poor fellows out. Will yez
try?' 'Yes!' we shouted. So he explained how