Part 24 (1/2)

”Where are the one No work any more What you call a hit”

”You mean a strike?” asked Tom

”Sure--strike--hit--all um same No more work--um 'fraid!”

Chapter XIX

A Woman Tells

”Well, if this isn't the lih without a strike on our hands!”

”I should say yes!” chimed in Job titus

”Do you mean that the men won't work any more?” asked his brother of the native fore devil in tunnel carry um off an' eat u a bit frightened,”

co hoenty-five one, Serato?”

”Gone home No more work Go on hit--strike--sao on strike,” coe

This was true The men had been paid off the day before, and usually on such occasions e But this time all had left, and evidently did not intend to co,” said Job ”And it's going to delay us just at the wrong time Well, there's no help for it Get busy, Serato

You and Tiive theood work (A sol is the standard silver coin of Peru, and is worth in United States gold about fifty cents)

”Half a dollar a dayto them,” went on the contractor ”Get the es two sols a week”

The eyes of the Indian glea

”Um try, but uments could not, of course, be learned, but he came back at the close of the day, unaccompanied by any workers, and he shook his head despondently

”Indians no coit”

”Then I'll try!” cried Job ”I'll get the workers I'll make our old ones come back, for they'll be the best”

Accompanied by his brother and To the one whenceones were not found, though, as before, their relatives, and, in some cases, their faone on strike were found lolling about their cabins and huts, s their ease, and no amount of persuasion could induce the enough and were tired, needing a rest Others declared they had h and did not want more Even two more sols a ould not induce them to return

Andthat if they went back to the tunnel soht carry them off under the earth

Job titus and his brother, who could speak the language fairly well, tried to argue against this They declared the tunnel was perfectly safe But one native worker, who had been the best in the gang, asked: