The little army was several rods from the pickets before a shot rang out, but that was fired into the air.  However, it was followed by a fierce clamor of “Scab” and a shower of stones, which did little harm.  The Lloyds marched on without a word, except from Sadie Peel.  She turned round with a derisive shout.

“Scab yourselves!” she shrieked.  “You dassen’t fire at me.  You’re scabs yourselves, you be!”

“Scabs, scabs!” shouted the men, moving forward.

“Scab yourself!” shouted Sadie Peel.

Abby Atkins caught hold of her arm and shook her violently.  “Shut up, can’t you, Sadie Peel,” she said.

“I’ll shut up when I get ready, Abby Atkins!  I ain’t afraid of them if you be.  They dassen’t hit me.  Scab, scab!” the girl yelled back, with a hysteric laugh.

“Don’t that girl know anything?” growled a man behind her.

“Shut up, Sadie Peel,” said Abby Atkins.

“I ain’t afraid if you be, and I won’t shut up till I get ready, for you or anybody else.  I’m goin’ to have my nearseal cape!  Hi!”

“I ain’t afraid,” said Abby, contemptuously, “but I’ve got sense.”

Maria pressed close to Sadie Peel.  “Please do keep still, Sadie,” she pleaded.  “Let us get into the factory as quietly as we can.  Think, if anybody was hurt.”

“I ain’t afraid,” shrieked the girl, with a toss of her red fringe, and she laughed like a parrot.  Abby Atkins gripped her arm so fiercely that she made her cry out with pain.  “If you don’t keep still!” she said, threateningly.

Willy Jones was walking as near as he could, and he carried his right arm half extended, as if to guard her.  Now and then Abby turned and gave him a push backward.

“They won’t trouble us girls, and you might as well let us and the men that have sticks go first,” she said in a whisper.

“If you think—­” began the young fellow, coloring.

“Oh, I know you ain’t afraid,” said Abby, “but you’ve got your mother to think of, and there’s no use in running into danger.”

The pickets were gradually left behind; they were, in truth, half-hearted.  Many of them had worked in Lloyd’s, and had small mind to injure their old comrades.  They were not averse to a great show of indignation and bluster, but when it came to more they hesitated.

Presently the company came into the open space before Lloyd’s.  Robert and Lyman Risley and several foremen were standing at the foot of the stairs.  The windows of the factory were filled with faces, and derisive cries came from them.  Lloyd’s tall shaft of chimney was plumed with smoke.  The employes advanced towards the stairs, when suddenly Amos Lee, Dixon, and a dozen others appeared, coming with a rush from around a corner of the building, and again the air was filled with the cry of “Scab!” Ellen and Abby linked arms and sprang forward before the men with an impetuous rush, with Joy and Willy