Bob obeyed reluctantly. He limped a little as he walked toward the cinder pit, for his legs pained him and there were blisters on his feet where the hot cinders and slag had burned through the shoes. Besides, he felt that he had not done his duty. "Did you hear Watski give you the lie, Steve?" "Yes, I heard," answered Rush, beginning to throw out cinders again. "He isn't worth bothering with. Let him alone. We cannot afford to have any fights at the beginning. I was in hopes things would run along smoothly." Foley leaned over the edge of the pit. "I'll report you both; I'll have you fined!" he growled. "Go on!" jeered Rush. "Report the other man. If you don't, I will." "Let me at him! Let me at him!" yelled Kalinski, starting for the pit. "I'll rub his nose in the hot slag, I will! I'll show him he can't throw hot cinders in my face. Git out of my way!" CHAPTER IV LAYING HANDS ON THE BOSS It was Foley's place to order the pit boss to let the boys alone and attend to his own business. Instead, Foley turned and walked away. He did not go far, however. He made his way to one of the open-hearth furnaces, where, unobserved, he peered around the corner of the red-hot pile of brick. Rush saw that an encounter was unavoidable. He was sorry, but he decided quickly to avoid coming to blows if possible. Kalinski had stooped over to pick up a shovel. In his rage he was going to attack the boys with it. Steve was out of the pit in a flash. "Keep out of this, Bob, unless the others mix in. I'll take care of that fellow." When Watski straightened up he found the Iron Boy standing over him with a pleasant smile on his face. "I wouldn't do that, were I in your place, Kalinski. I tell you it was an accident, and I am sorry I threw the cinders over you. I give you my word that it was an accident." Watski dropped his shovel, and uttering a yell of rage, struck at Steve. The blow, had it reached its mark, would have knocked Rush backward into the hot cinder pit. He dodged the blow, however; then suddenly Watski Kalinski found his wrists in a grip that made him writhe. The Iron Boy's thumbs were pressing on sensitive nerves. "Ouch! Ouch!" howled the Pole. Foley, in his wonder, forgot to hide himself. He stepped from the protection of the furnace. "Leggo my wrists! Leggo, I tell you!" "Will you behave yourself if I----" "I'll knock your head--ouch!" The tears were actually running from the eyes of the pit boss. He was suffering great pain. But he got no sympathy from the mill hands who had gathered about. They were laughing and jeering at him, not especially because they sided with Rush, whom they did not know, but because Kalinski was not popular among them. At this juncture Bill Foley came running forward. He saw that his pit boss was getting the worst of it, and that Rush would soon gain the sympathy of the crowd. He did not wish this to happen. Had it been the other way Foley would have been perfectly satisfied.