he said. "But look here! Judging by what we've
seen, these chaps won't stick at trifles. Personally I don't much care
what happens, so long as I can get interested; but you're
different--you're an older man. Hadn't you better try the station?"

The little man blushed.

"Damn it, sir!" he began, and then stopped. "I beg your pardon--I
haven't sworn these twenty years, but I feel somehow different to-day.
What I mean is that I'm not a graybeard yet, and if you can be
interested, I can. Come on!"

"All right," said Tony, warming to him. "Awfully sorry I said that. I
say, you _are_ a sportsman----"

The other blushed again, but this time with pleasure. "Thank you. That
is the second time I have been called a sportsman within twenty-four
hours. I ... I rather like it, Mr.----. By the way, have you any
objection to telling me your name?"

"Not a bit, if you'll tell me yours."

The little man considered a moment, and then----

"My name is Hedderwick," he said frankly. "I feel I can trust you to
keep your own counsel."

"Of course. Mine is Tony Wild."

They had been walking quickly in the direction of the noise, which every
minute became clearer. At last, guided by their ears, they entered a
street where their curiosity was satisfied. At the farther end was a
seething crowd of men, a few women, and a rabble of gutter children.
They were the strikers, or some of them, all excited and not a few
drunk. As the guard had said, they were evidently somewhat out of hand,
and the looting of the public-houses had not tended to assuage their
wrath. Fired by their alleged grievances, liquor, eloquence and the
electricity of a mob, they had spent the last few hours in wrecking the
town. The police had done all that was possible to stem the attack and
vindicate law and order, but they were hopelessly outnumbered.
Reinforcements and soldiers had been telegraphed for, and were even now
marching, but for the time being the local forces had retired to talk
over the return match and exchange of lint and arnica. The strikers were
in possession and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Tony, whispering to his companion, "Keep close and don't get into
arguments: pretend to be a labor leader, if you like!" pushed his way
slowly through the crowd. Robert, his heart bumping with fear, interest
and excitement, followed him; he was afraid, but not too afraid, and he
felt that his holiday was proving a success. When they reached the
center of inte