Part 16 (2/2)

ON GUARD.

It seemed as if it had all been a dream when I awoke and found Uncle Bob was shaking me.

”Come, young fellow,” he cried; ”breakfast's ready.”

I did not feel ready for my breakfast if it was, especially a breakfast of bread and meat with no chair, no table, no cloth, no tea, coffee, or bread and b.u.t.ter.

Such a good example was shown me, though, that I took the thick sandwich offered to me, and I was soon forgetting my drowsiness and eating heartily.

We were not interrupted, and when we had ended our meal, went round the place to see what was to be done.

The first thing was placing the property that could be claimed by the men close by the gate ready for them, and when this was done Piter and I walked up and down the yard listening to the steps outside, and waiting to give a signal if any of the men should come.

No men came, however, and there was not a single call till afternoon, when a sharp rapping at the gate was answered by two of my uncles, and the dog, who seemed puzzled as to the best pair of legs to peer between, deciding at last in favour of Uncle Bob's.

To our surprise, when the gate was opened, there were no men waiting, but half a dozen women, one of whom announced that they had came for their masters' ”traps,” and the said ”traps” being handed to them, they went off without a word, not even condescending to say ”Thank you.”

”Come,” said Uncle Bob, after the various things had been carried off, and Piter had stood looking on twitching his ears and blinking at them, as if he did not war with women, ”Come, we've won the game.”

”Don't be too sure, my boy,” said Uncle d.i.c.k.

”But they have, given up.”

”Given up expecting to use the works. But what are they going to do in revenge?”

”Revenge!”

”Yes. You may depend upon it we are marked men, and that we shall have to fight hard to hold our own.”

As the day went on--a day busily spent in making plans for the future of our factory, we had one or two applications from men who were seeking work, and if we had any doubt before of how our coming was to be received, we realised it in the yells and hootings that greeted the men who came in a friendly spirit.

Uncle d.i.c.k went off directly after breakfast to see about the machinery waiting at the railway being delivered, and it was late in the afternoon before he returned.

”One of us will have to stay always on the premises for the present,” he said, ”so I have ordered some furniture and a carpenter to come and board up and make that corner office comfortable. We must make s.h.i.+ft.”

The matter was discussed, and finally it was settled that two of our party were to be always on the premises, and until we were satisfied that there was no more fear of interference, one was to keep watch half the night with the dog, and then be relieved by the other.

”We shall have to make a man of you, Cob,” said Uncle Jack. ”You must take your turn with us.”

”I'm ready,” I replied; and very proud I felt of being trusted.

Of course I felt nervous, but at the same time rather disappointed, for everything went on in the most business like way. Carpenters and fitters were set to work, and, helped by the indomitable perseverance and energy of my uncles, a great deal of fresh machinery was soon in position. New shafts and bands, a new furnace for preparing our own steel after a fas.h.i.+on invented by Uncle d.i.c.k. New grindstones and polis.h.i.+ng-wheels, new forges with tilt-hammers, and anvils.

By degrees I found what was going to be our chief business, and that was the production of cutlery of a peculiar temper especially for surgical instruments and swords, Uncle d.i.c.k having an idea that he could produce blades equal to Damascus or the finest Spanish steel.

The days glided by with the works growing more complete, and each night half our party on guard at Fort Industry, as Uncle Bob christened the place. And though the couple who had slept at the lodgings went down to the place every morning feeling nervous, and wondering whether anything had happened in the night, it was always to find that all was going on perfectly smoothly, and that there was nothing to mind.

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