“You’ll do that, Blake, or you’ll shoulder your kit back home.  And what goes with you goes with your clique.  I know your kind, and you can’t worry me.  Take that pick and dig—­or hike.  There’s no two ways about it.”

Philip could not hear what the big man said, but suddenly Thorpe’s fist shot out and struck him fairly on the jaw.  In another instant Thorpe had jumped back, and was facing half a dozen angry, threatening men.  He had drawn a revolver, and his white teeth gleamed in a cool and menacing smile.

“Think it over, boys,” he said, quietly.  “And if you’re not satisfied come in and draw your pay this noon.  We’ll furnish you with outfits and plenty of grub if you don’t like the work up here.  I don’t care to hold men like you to your contracts.”

He came to meet Philip, as though nothing unusual had happened.

“That will delay the completion of our work for a week at least,” he said, as he thrust his revolver into a holster hidden under his coat.  “I’ve been expecting trouble with Blake and four or five of his pals for some time.  I’m glad it’s over.  Blake threatens a strike unless I give him a sub-foremanship and increase the men’s wages from six to ten dollars a day.  Think of it.  A strike—­up here!  It would be the beginning of history, wouldn’t it?”

He laughed softly, and Philip laughed from sheer admiration of the man’s courage.

“You think they’ll go?” he asked, anxiously.

“I’m sure of it,” replied Thorpe.  “It’s the best thing that can happen.”

An hour later Philip was back in camp.  He did not see Thorpe again until after dinner, and then the gang-foreman hunted him up.  His face wore a worried look.

“It’s a little worse than I expected,” he said.  “Blake and eight others came in for their pay and outfits this noon.  I didn’t think that more than three or four would have the nerve to quit.”

“I’ll furnish you with men to take their places,” said Philip.

“There’s the hitch,” replied Thorpe, rolling a cigarette.  “I want my men to work by themselves.  Put half a dozen of your amateur road-men among them and it will mean twenty per cent. less work done, and perhaps trouble.  They’re a tough lot.  I concede that.  I’ve thought of a way to offset the loss of Blake and the others.  We can set a gang of your men at work over at Gray Beaver Lake, and they can build up to meet us.”

Philip saw MacDougall soon after his short talk with Thorpe.  The engineer did not disguise his pleasure at the turn which affairs had taken.

“I’m glad they’re going,” he declared.  “If there’s to be trouble I’ll feel easier with that bunch out of camp.  I’d give my next month’s salary if Thorpe would take his whole outfit back where they came from.  They’re doing business with the road-bed all right, but I don’t like the idea of having ’em around when there are throats to be cut, one side or t’other.”