"This is one of our engineers," explained the foreman, "and I was on the way to the station with him when these strikers took him away." "Begad, he's a bute," said the officer, folding his arms over his ample stomach and gazing with mirthful curiosity at the bum. "Now, ye's fellies must not interfere with men as wants to make an honest living--let th' ingineer go t' 'is ingine," and he gave Billy a shove that sent him into the arms of the waiting foreman. "What's it _to_ you," shouted the angry engine-driver, "who wants to work--who said I wanted t' make a' honest livin'?--Go t' 'ell," and he struck the foreman in the face. "Here! Here!!" cried the officer, seizing the fighter, "you'll go to work or go to jail," and Billy went away between the copper and the foreman with his wheels sliding. After much coaxing and cursing by the foreman, who was often asked to come out in the alley and settle it, Billy was loaded into an engine cab. While the foreman was selecting a fireman from the hard-looking herd of applicants sent down from the office of the master-mechanic, the gentle warmth of the boiler-head put Billy to sleep. It was a sound, and apparently dreamless sleep, from which he did not wake the while they rolled him from the engine, loaded him into a hurry-up wagon and carried him away to the cooler. When he had sobered up Greene went to the round-house and offered his services to the company, but the foreman would not talk to him. Finally Greene became abusive, and the foreman kicked him out of the round-house and across the turntable. From that day Greene was a striker, and a very troublesome one. CHAPTER EIGHTH Two weeks had passed when the Philosopher met Patsy, now in deep disgrace. Patsy had been expelled from the Brotherhood for aiding a scab. "O! it's nothing," said Patsy. "That's right. It won't be worth much to belong to the Union when this cruel war is over." "Only a fellow hates to get the worst of it when he really tries to tote fair." "The best you can get is the worst of it when you are bound by oath to an organization that is engaged in a hopeless fight. The president offered yesterday to take back seventy-five per cent. of the men, and immediately they said he was running. This morning the offer is for sixty per cent., but they won't have it. Have they offered to balm you with promotion?" "Yes." "Varnished cars, eh?" "Yep--finest train on the road." "And you told them?--" "No." "Well, I think you did right. Shall we go and peck?" "Have you been working?"