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e works and take their day's wages。 But they draw out the grinders； and mutilate the business。 They hurt you as much as if they struck； and lost their wages。 But no； they want their wages to help pay the grinders on strike。 Your only chance was to discharge every man in the works； the moment the grinders gave notice。〃
〃Why didn't you tell me so； then？〃
〃Because I'm not old Smitem。 He can see a thing beforehand。 I can see it afterward。 I'm like the weatherwise man's pupil； as good as my master； give me time。 The master could tell you； at sunrise； whether the day would be wet or dry； and the pupil he could tell you at sunset： and that is just the odds between old Smitem and me。〃
〃Well； if he is old Smitem； I'm old Fightem。〃
At night； he told Bayne he had private information； that the grinders were grumbling at being made a cat's…paw of by the forgers and the handlers。 〃Hold on；〃 said he； 〃they will break up before morning。〃
At ten o'clock next day he came down to the works； and some peremptory orders had poured in。 〃They must wait；〃 said he； peevishly。
At twelve he said； 〃How queer the place seems； and not a grindstone going。 It seems as still as the grave。 I'm a man； I'm not a mouse。〃
Mr。 Cheetham repeated this last fact in zoology three times； to leave no doubt of it in his own mind； I suppose。
At 1。00； he said he would shut up the works rather than be a slave。
At 1。15 he blustered。
At 1。20 he gave in： collapsed in a moment； like a punctured bladder。 〃Bayne；〃 said he； with a groan； 〃go to Jobson； and ask him to come and talk this foolish business over。〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said Bayne。 〃Don't be offended； but you are vexed and worried； and whoever the Union sends to you will be as cool as marble。 I have just heard it is Redcar carries the conditions。〃
〃What； the foreman of my own forgers！ Is he to dictate to me？〃 cried Cheetham； grinding his teeth with indignation。
〃Well； sir； what does it matter？〃 said Bayne； soothingly。 〃He is no more than a mouthpiece。〃
〃Go for him；〃 said Cheetham； sullenly。
〃But； sir； I can't bear that your own workman should see you so agitated。〃
〃Oh； I shall be all right the moment I see my man before me。〃
Bayne went off； and soon returned with Redcar。 The man had his coat on； but had not removed his leathern apron。
Cheetham received him as the representative of the Unions。 〃Sit down； Redcar； and let us put an end to this little bother。 What do you require？〃
〃Mr。 Little's discharge； sir。〃
〃Are you aware he is with me on a month's notice？〃
〃They make a point of his leaving the works at once； sir； and I was to beg you to put other hands into his room。〃
〃It is taking a great liberty to propose that。〃
〃Nay。 They only want to be satisfied。 He has given a vast o' trouble。〃
〃I'll give him a month's warning。 If I discharge him on the spot； he can sue me。〃
〃That has been thought on。 If he sues you； you can talk to the Unions； and they will act with you。 But the grinders are not to come in till Little is out。〃
〃Well； so be it； then。〃
〃And his rooms occupied by Union men？〃
〃If I swallow the bolus； I may as well swallow the pills。 Anything more？〃
〃The grinders are not to lose their time； a day and a half。〃
〃What！ am I to pay them for not working？〃
〃Well； sir； if we had come to you； of course the forgers and handlers would have paid the grinders for lost time； but； as you have come to us； you will have to pay them。〃
Cheetham made a wry face； but acquiesced。
〃And then； sir；〃 said Redcar； 〃there's another little matter。 The incidental expenses of the strike。〃
〃I don't know what you mean。〃
〃The expenses incurred by the secretaries； and a little present to another gentleman； who advised us。 It comes to thirty pounds altogether。〃
〃What！〃 cried Cheetham； struggling with his rising choler。 〃You want me to pay men thirty pounds for organizing a strike； that will cost me so dear； and rob me of a whole trade that was worth L300 a year？ Why not charge me for the gunpowder you blew up Little with； and spoiled my forge？ No； Bayne； no； this is too unjust and too tyrannical。 Flesh and blood won't bear it。 I'll shut up the works； and go back to my grindstone。 Better live on bread and water than live like a slave。〃
Redcar took a written paper out of his pocket。 〃There are the terms written down；〃 said he； 〃if you sign them； the strike ends； if you don't； it continuestill you do。〃
Cheetham writhed under the pressure。 Orders were pouring in； trade brisk； hands scarce。 Each day would add a further loss of many pounds for wages； and doubtless raise fresh exactions。 He gulped down something very like a sob； and both his hand and his voice shook with strong passion as he took the pen。 〃I'll sign it； but if ever my turn comes； I'll remember this against you。 This shows what they really are； Bayne。 Oh； if ever you workmen get power； GOD HELP THE WORLD！〃
These words seemed to come in a great prophetic agony out of a bursting heart。
But the representative of the Unions was neither moved by them nor irritated。
〃All right；〃 said he； phlegmatically； 〃the winner takes his bite： the loser gets his bark： that's reason。〃
Henry Little was in his handling…room； working away； with a bright perspective before him； when Bayne knocked at the door； and entered with Redcar。 Bayne's face wore an expression so piteous； that Henry divined mischief at once。
〃Little； my poor fellow； it is all over。 We are obliged to part with you。〃
〃Cheetham has thrown me over？〃
〃What could he do？ I am to ask you to vacate these rooms； that we may get our half…day out of the grinders。〃
Henry turned pale； but there was no help for it。
He got up in a very leisurely way； and； while he was putting on his coat； he told Bayne； doggedly； he should expect his month's salary。
As he was leaving； Redcar spoke to him in rather a sheepish way。 〃Shake hands； old lad；〃 said he； 〃thou knows one or t'other must win； and there's not a grain of spite against thee。 It's just a trade matter。〃
Henry stood with his arms akimbo； and looked at Redcar。 〃I was in hopes；〃 said he； grinding his teeth； 〃you were going to ask me to take a turn with you in the yard； man to man。 But I can't refuse my hand to one of my own sort that asks it。 There 'tis。 After all； you deserve to win； for you are true to each other； but a master can't be true to a man； nor to anything on earth； but his pocket。〃
He then strolled out into the yard； with his hands in his pockets； and whistled 〃The Harmonious Blacksmith〃 very sick at heart。
CHAPTER IX。
The strike was over； the grinders poured into the works； and the grindstones revolved。 Henry Little leaned against an angle of the building； and listened with aching heart to their remorseless thunder。 He stood there disconsolatethe one workman out of work and sipped the bitter cup； defeat。 Then he walked out at the gates； and wandered languidly into the streets。 He was miserable； and had nobody to mourn to； for the main cause of his grief lay beneath the surface of this defeat； and how could he reveal it； now that his ambitious love looked utter madness？ Young as he was； he had seen