It's up to you!" So saying, the
car was turned about and the party proceeded back to the foundry.

"What are you going to do, Chief?" inquired the Mayor anxiously.

"There are a lot of soldiers in that crowd," said the Chief. "I don't
like the looks of them. They are too steady. I hate to smash through
them."

Arrived at the foundry, the Chief paced up and down, pondering his
problem. He called Maitland to his side.

"How many cars have we here, Maitland?" he inquired.

"Some fifteen, I think. And there are five or six more parked down on
the street."

"That would be enough," said the Chief. "I hate the idea of smashing
through that crowd. You see, some of those boys went through hell with
me and I hate to hurt them."

"Why not try a ruse?" suggested Maitland. "Divide your party. You take
five or six cars with constables up the hill to that crowd there. Let me
take the strikebreakers and the rest of the cars and make a dash to the
right. It's a longer way round but with the streets clear, we can arrive
at Headquarters in a very few minutes."

The Chief considered the plan for a few minutes in silence.

"It's a good plan, Maitland," he said at length. "It's a good plan.
And we'll put it through. I'll make the feint on the left; you run
them through on the right. I believe we can pull it off. Give me a few
minutes to engage their attention before you set out."

Everything came off according to plan. As the Chief's detachment of
cars approached the solid mass of strikers, they slowly gave back before
them.

"Clear the way there!" said the Chief. "We are going through!"

Step by step the crowd gave way, pressed by the approaching cars.
Suddenly, at a word of command, the mass opened ranks and the Chief saw
before him a barrier across the street, constructed of fencing torn from
neighbouring gardens, an upturned delivery wagon, a very ugly and very
savage-looking field harrow commandeered from a neighbouring market
garden, with wicked-looking, protruding teeth and other debris of
varied material, but all helping to produce a most effective barricade.
Silently the Chief stood for a few moments, gazing at the obstruction.
A curious, ominous growl of laughter ran through the mob. Then came a
sharp word of command:

"Unload!"

As with one movement his party of constables were on the ground and
lined up in front of their cars, with their clubs and axe handles ready
for service. Still the mob waited in ominous si