“This is not what you intended, Mr. Stone,” answered Hal. The pit-boss came closer yet. “What you looking for, kid? What you expect to get out of this?” Hal’s gaze was unwavering. “Experience,” he replied. “You’re feeling smart, sonny. But you’d better stop and realise what you’re up against. You ain’t going to get away with it, you know; get that through your head--you ain’t going to get away with it. You’d better come in and have a talk with me.” There was a silence. “Don’t you know how it’ll be, Smith? These little fires start up--but we put ’em out. We know how to do it, we’ve got the machinery. It’ll all be forgotten in a week or two, and then where’ll you be at? Can’t you see?” As Hal still made no reply, the other’s voice dropped lower. “I understand your position. Just give me a nod, and it’ll be all right. You tell the men that you’ve watched the weights, and that they’re all right. They’ll be satisfied, and you and me can fix it up later.” “Mr. Stone,” said Hal, with intense gravity, “am I correct in the impression that you are offering me a bribe?” In a flash, the man’s self-control vanished. He thrust his huge fist within an inch of Hal’s nose, and uttered a foul oath. But Hal did not remove his nose from the danger-zone, and over the fist a pair of angry brown eyes gazed at the pit-boss. “Mr. Stone, you had better realise this situation. I am in dead earnest about this matter, and I don’t think it will be safe for you to offer me violence.” For a moment or two the man continued to glare at Hal; but it appeared that he, like Bud Adams, had been given instructions. He turned abruptly and strode back into the office. Hal stood for a bit, until he had made sure of his composure. After which he strolled over towards the scales. A difficulty had occurred to him for the first time--that he did not know anything about the working of coal-scales. But he was given no time to learn. The tipple-boss reappeared. “Get out of here, fellow!” said he. “But you invited me in,” remarked Hal, mildly. “Well, now I invite you out again.” And so the protestant resumed his vigil at the mandarin’s palace-gates. SECTION 13.