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contribution…men； was burning bricks all by himself； when a body of seven men came crawling up to within a little distance。 These men were what they call 〃victims；〃 i。e。； men on strike； and receiving pay from the box。
Now； when a man stands against the fire of a kiln； he cannot see many yards from him： so five of the 〃victims〃 stood waiting； and sent two forward。 These two came up to Wilde； and asked him a favor。 〃Eh； mister； can you let me and my mate lie down for an hour by your fire？〃
〃You are welcome；〃 said honest Wilde。 He then turned to break a piece of coal； and instantly one of those who had accepted his hospitality struck him on the back of the head； and the other five rushed in； and they all set on him； and hit him with cartlegs； and kicked him with their heavy shoes。 Overpowered as he was； he struggled away from them； groaning and bleeding； and got to a shed about thirty yards off。 But these relentless men； after a moment's hesitation； followed him； and rained blows and kicks on him again； till he gave himself up for dead。 He cried out in his despair； 〃Lord； have mercy on me； they have finished me！〃 and fainted away in a pool of his own blood。 But； just before he became insensible； he heard a voice say； 〃Thou'll burn no more bricks。〃 Then the 〃victims〃 retired； leaving this great criminal for dead。
After a long while he came to himself； and found his arm was broken； and his body covered with cuts and bruises。 His house was scarcely a furlong distant； yet he was an hour crawling to it。 His room was up a short stair of ten steps。 The steps beat him； he leaned on the rail at the bottom； and called out piteously； 〃My wife！ my wife！ my wife！〃 three times。
Mrs。 Wilde ran down to him； and caught hold of his hand； and said； 〃Whatever is to do？〃
When she took his hand the pain made him groan； and she felt something drip on to her hand。 It was blood from his wounded arm。 Then she was terrified； and； strong with excitement； she managed to get him into the house and lay him on the floor。 She asked him； had he fallen off the kiln？ He tried to reply； but could not； and fainted again。 This time he was insensible for several hours。 In the morning he came to； and told his cruel story to Whitbread； Bolt； and others。 Bolt and Whitbread took it most to heart。 Bolt went to Mr。 Ransome； and put the case in his hands。
Ransome made this remark：〃Ah； you are a stranger； sir。 The folk hereabouts never come to us in these Union cases。 I'll attend to it； trust me。〃
Bolt went with this tragedy to Henry； and it worried him； but he could do nothing。 〃Mr。 Bolt；〃 said he； 〃I think you are making your own difficulties。 Why quarrel with the Brickmakers' Union？ Surely that is superfluous。〃
〃Why； it is them that quarreled with me； and I'm Ben Bolt； that is bad to beat。〃 He armed himself with gun and revolver； and watched the Whitbreads' yard himself at night。
Two days after this； young Whitbread's wife received an anonymous letter； advising her； as a friend； to avert the impending fate of her husband； by persuading him to dismiss the police and take back his Hands。 The letter concluded with this sentence； 〃He is generally respected； but we have come to a determination to shoot him。〃
Young Whitbread took no apparent notice of this； and soon afterward the secretary of the Union proposed a conference。 Bolt got wind of this； and was there when the orators came。 The deputation arrived； and； after a very short preamble； offered to take the six…pence。
〃Why；〃 said Bolt； 〃you must be joking。 Those are the terms poor Wilde came back on； and you have hashed him for it。〃
Old Whitbread looked the men in the face； and said； gravely； 〃You are too late。 You have shed that poor man's blood； and you have sent an anonymous letter to my son's wife。 That lady has gone on her knees to us to leave the trade； and we have consented。 Fifteen years ago； your Union wrote letters of this kind to my wife （she was pregnant at the time）； and drove her into her grave； with fright and anxiety for her husband。 You shall not kill Tom's wife as well。 The trade is a poor one at best； thanks to the way you have ground your employers down； and； when you add to that needling our clay； and burning our gear； and beating our servants to death's door； and driving our wives into the grave； we bid you good…by。 Mr。 Bolt； I'm the sixth brickmaster this Union has driven out of the trade by outrages during the last ten years。〃
〃Thou's a wrong…headed old chap；〃 said the brickmakers' spokesman； 〃but thou canst not run away with place。 Them as takes to it will have to take us on。〃
〃Not so。 We have sold our plant to the Barton Machine Brickmaking Company； and you maltreated them so at starting that now they won't let a single Union man set his foot on their premises。〃
The company in question made bricks better and cheaper than any other brickmaster； but； making them by machinery； were ALWAYS at war with the Brickmakers' Union； and； whenever a good chance occurred for destroying their property； it was done。 They； on their part； diminished those chances greatly by setting up their works five miles from the town； and by keeping armed watchmen and police。 Only these ran away with their profits。
Now； when this company came so near the town； and proceeded to work up Whitbread's clay； in execution of the contract with which their purchase saddled them； the Brickmakers' Union held a great meeting； in which full a hundred brickmakers took part； and passed extraordinary resolutions； and voted extraordinary sums of money； and recorded both in their books。 These books were subsequently destroyed； for a reason the reader can easily divine who has read this narrative with his understanding。
Soon after that meeting； one Kay； a brickmaker； who was never seen to make a brickfor the best of all reasons； he lived by blood alonewas observed reconnoitering the premises； and that very night a quantity of barrows； utensils； and tools were heaped together； naphtha poured over them； and the whole set on fire。
Another dark night； twenty thousand bricks were trampled so noiselessly that the perpetrators were neither seen nor heard。
But Bolt hired more men； put up a notice he would shoot any intruder dead； and so frightened them by his blustering that they kept away； being cowards at bottom； and the bricks were rapidly made； and burnt； and some were even delivered； these bricks were carted from the yard to the building site by one Harris； who had nothing to do with the quarrel； he was a carter by profession； and wheeled bricks for all the world。
One night this poor man's haystack and stable were all in flames in a moment； and unearthly screams issued from the latter。
The man ran out； half…naked； and his first thought was to save his good gray mare from the fire。 But this act of humanity had been foreseen and provided against。 The miscreants had crept into the stable； and tied the poor docile beast fast by the head to the rack； then fired the straw。 Her screams were such as no man knew a horse could utter。 They pierced all hearts； however hard； till her burnt body burst the burnt cords； and all fell together。 Man could not aid her。