Part 39 (2/2)
”Get us a drink, boss; we're thirsty.”
”There is the water-tap,” said Emerson. ”Help yourself.”
”Go on! We don't want water. Rustle up a keg of beer, will you?”
”Nothing doing.”
He turned back to his task, but a moment later Boyd saw him making for the sh.o.r.e end of the dock, and with a few strides placed himself in his path.
”Where are you going?”
”After a drink, of course.”
”You want to quit, eh?”
The man eyed him for an instant, then answered: ”No! The job's all right, but I'm thirsty.”
Those working near ceased their labors and gathered around, whereupon their companion addressed them.
”Say! It's a great note when a fellow can't have a drink. Come on, boys, I'll set 'em up.” There was a general laugh and a forward movement of all within hearing, which Boyd checked with a rough command.
”Get back to work, all of you.” But the spokesman, disregarding his words, attempted to pa.s.s, whereupon without warning Boyd knocked him down with a clean blow to the face. At this the others yelled and rushed forward, only to be met by their foreman, who had s.n.a.t.c.hed a bale-hook. It was an ugly weapon, and he used it so viciously that they quickly gave him room.
”Now get to work,” he ordered, quietly. ”You can quit if you want to, but I'll lay out the first fellow that goes after a drink. Make up your minds what you want to do. Quick!”
There was a moment's hesitation, and then, with the absurd vagary of a crowd, they broke into loud laughter and slouched back to work, two of them dragging the cause of the outburst to the water-faucet, where they held his head under the stream until he began to sputter and squirm.
Before those at the gangway had noticed the disturbance it was all over, and thereafter Boyd experienced no trouble. On the contrary, they worked the better for his proof of authority, and took him into their fellows.h.i.+p as if he had qualified to their entire satisfaction. Even the man he had struck seemed to share in the general respect rather than to cherish the least ill-feeling. The respite was brief, however, for the work had not continued many hours before a stranger made his way quietly in upon the dock and began to argue with the first fisherman he met. Boyd discovered him quickly, and, approaching him, demanded:
”What do you want?”
”Nothing,” said the new-comer.
”Then get out.”
”What for? I'm just talking to this man.”
”I can't allow any talking here. Hurry up and get out.”
”This is a free country. I ain't hurting you.”
”Will you go?”
”Say! You can't load that cargo this way,” the man began, threateningly.
”And you can't make me go--”
At which Emerson seized him by the collar and quickly disproved the a.s.sertion, to the great delight of the fishermen. He marched his prisoner to the dock entrance and thrust him out into the street with the warning: ”Don't you let me catch you in here again.”
”I'm a union man and you can't load that s.h.i.+p with 'scabs!'” The stranger swore as he slunk off. ”You'll be sorry for this.” But Boyd motioned him away and summoned two of his men to stand guard with him.
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