Fighting with French

rn from Belgium had pulled him down, and he had put off joining the army until assured o

you want is a little hardening up. I'll give you a prescription. T

home he posted an application fo

lunch, he received a

les. Governor mad. C

e telegram t

sked. "Your friend must be

eeting with Randall on the previous day. "At school he always wanted

n the repl

Not my

of hours came a

r. Wri

s post brough

only jeered. Governor says I'll only make them worse if I try; calls me a scatter-brain; I assure you he's in a deuce of a wax. Used to be as meek as Moses; wouldn't hear of compulsion; he's turned completely over, talks of sacking the men, closing the works, conscription, and so on and so forth. Something must be done.

remarked Mrs. Amory whe

the men, but it will please Randy, and my being on the spot may prevent him

the fact that he was too old for active service, a special constable, an energetic member of the local home defence corps, he had expected all his able-bodied men to rush to the colours, promised to keep their places for them, and to make up their pay for the sake of their dependents. The paltry response filled him with fury. Without taking the

to his host's outpourings, without o

he and Kenneth were alone. "Let

ou done?" as

hat's fair? Anyway, I'm his son! But I spoke to old Griggs, our foreman; asked him why the men won't enlist. ''Cos they're

did he

ll him Ginger. He's been with us years: came as a boy. A rough customer, I can tell you: a jolly good workman, but a regular demon for mischief. All the same, you can't help liking him. He's a sportsman, too: good at boxing, a first-class forward, just the fe

eth. "Bring them round, and the rest will follow like sh

n the yard at tea-time to discuss the governor's threa

nce might sh

elight in letting us hear a few things about ourselves--idle rich, bloated capitalists and so on: which reminds me

e boys and apprentices to grey seasoned veterans. The most of them had tea cans, some were smoking. At one end of the yard, standin

The young governor!" It caught the ears of the man on the tub, who broke off his speech for a moment and glanced sha

ut Britons never will be slaves is blankety rot, and I say that when an employer threatens to sack us or close the works because we don't feel called on to turn ourselves into gun-fodder, I say he's a nigger-driver and a ty

lgium?" cried

ause Belgium has done nothing for us. Then I ask you in the name of common sense why on earth we should do anything for Belgium? Belgium has

e young governor!" drowned the speaker's voice. "Time's up, Stoneway!" sang out the bo

rom the tub, Randall

we're mean skunks, we're disgraced for ever. Besides, every decent chap loathes a bully, and Germany's just a great hulking bully. If you see a big chap hurting a little 'un, you want to knock him down. My father tells me that only about a dozen of you have enlisted. What's the reason of it? You'd

th lean clean-shaven cheeks, deeply furrowed, and a touzled mop of reddish hair. A red scarf was knotted about his neck. He slouched forward, hands in pockets, murmured "Afternoon, Mr. Harry," as he passed Randall, mounted t

f it." He thumped the air. "Who made this war? Not us: we wasn't consulted. No: it was the nobs done it. Are we going to let 'em force us into it?" (Shouts of "No!") "We won't be druv. It's all very well for the o

id Randall. "I've

one on the boko, and if Lord Kitchener'd make me a lootenant or a capting in the Coldstream Guards, with a sword and eppylets and ten bob a day--well, I don't say I wouldn

d his assertion had fallen

ave thrown up good jobs and sacrifi

ions to this, that, and the other, and reduce their men's wages, i

s were fixed on the young governor's friend, awaitin

the corners of the yard. "But I'll tell you what I'll do, and if I know my friend Mr. Randall,

to Randall: his mates watched him curiously. "On

that, sir?"

ly," sai

ffer, Ginger,"

tes--n

day," sai

ong his mates, grinning awkwardly, avoiding their eyes. They were silent, watching him.

me on, mates. Who's for Kitchener's army a

ecruiting office. Mr. Randall, called to his window by the tramp of many feet and the strains of "It's a long long way to Tipper

is mean, Grig

sir. We shall be