you!" said Whatman in ungovernable
rage. "If you don't go this minute I'll give you such a hiding as
you'll never forget. I owe you one for interfering with Jem the other
day."

But Dick did not move, and his brown eyes met Whatman's angry scowl
without shrinking.

Suddenly, Hal Smith, one of the other lads, said, "Here, Whatman, I'll
fetch it this time, same as I have before, and we'll make him have a
drink, and that will put a stop to his teetotal whining."

Seizing the jar and looking out cautiously to see that the coast was
clear, he hurried off, while Whatman, muttering angrily, turned away.

Dick went on with his cleaning of some brass fittings, polishing and
rubbing till they shone like gold.

But while his hands worked vigorously his thoughts were away beyond the
grimy shed and the troubles of the hour, seeking One who said, "I will
never leave thee nor forsake thee."

He needed all his faith a few minutes afterwards, when Hal came back
with the foaming jar.

"Now, young sir," said Whatman, with mock politeness, "you'll drink
best respects to us in this here cup of beer. Every drop, mind! What,
you won't have it? Here, Smith and Perkins, hold his head while I pour
it down. He's got to learn manners!"

Dick struggled violently in his captors' hands and almost got free.
But the men were too strong for him, and he was held fast.

Clenching his teeth and resolved to choke rather than swallow it he
waited till the cup was at his lips, and then, with a sudden jerk of
his head, knocked it aside and caused the stream of brown liquid to
fall on the dirty floor.

Whatman's answer to this was a violent blow that made blue and green
stars dance before the boy's eyes and almost stunned him.

"What is going on here?" said a stern voice in the doorway. Instantly
the men closed round the jar, hoping to hide it, but Macleod, the
Scotch foreman, was not easily hoodwinked.

"Drinking and fighting too. What do you mean by it?"

"It's this young rascal here," said Whatman. "Cheeking us and drinking
our beer."

Dick was too dazed to answer, but there was no need. Macleod had seen
the cowardly blow. "Your beer? And how did that jar get here at this
time of day? I shall report you, Whatman and Smith; you've had
warnings enough, I should say, but one of these times will be the last.
And if you put upon this boy again you'll have to reckon with Dainton
and me. He's under Dainton's care, anyhow, and you ha