Of the sixty miners, twenty-three are killed outright; ten are mortally wounded; twenty-one have less serious wounds. Six have run the gauntlet and are fleeing back to Hazleton. The triumphant march of the police to Hazleton is begun. "We will carry the wounded," says the sheriff. "They might get through to Harleigh and Latimer." "We will round up the six who escaped," Captain Grout assures the sheriff. He then details ten men to run down the miners who have eluded capture. This is an easy matter, as the footprints of the miners are perfectly distinct in the soft snow. On the six trails the men set off, as a pack of hounds on the scent of game. This man-hunt results in an addition of _six_ to the list of the slain. Gorman Purdy's orders have been carried out. His police have been sworn in as deputies; they have met the miners and have "fired first." The sanctity of the law enveloped their act. They shot as _Deputies_. They dispersed a band of miners who were on the highway, armed, according to the sheriff's version, "with sticks," and bent on creating trouble in Harleigh. Did it matter that the "sticks" were flag staffs on which were displayed the White Flag of truce, and the Emblem of Liberty? CHAPTER VI. A STAND FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. News of the massacre on the highway can not be suppressed. A wave of indignation sweeps over the country. Newspapers, clergymen, statesmen, ordinary citizens are of one opinion, that the sheriff and his deputies should be made to suffer for their dastardly acts. The result of the agitation is a call for trial for a case of murder. The Grand Jury of Luzerne County find an indictment against Sheriff Marlin and Captain Grout. These men are placed on trial. Gorman Purdy at first is highly elated over the result of the sheriff's summary action against the miners. "It has taught the miners a good lesson," he asserts openly. The morning after the Grand Jury returns its indictment, Purdy enters Harvey Trueman's office. The relationship between Purdy and Trueman is no longer strained. In three months time Harvey will marry Ethel. He is to live at the Purdy mansion until his own house can be built. "You have read the papers this morning?" Purdy asks. "Yes. It begins to look serious for the sheriff and Grout. I understand that they are to be imprisoned to-day." "Now I want to have a talk with you about defending them." "Defending them!" exclaims Trueman. "You want me to defend them?" "It was in our interests that they acted," says Purdy, "and the least we can do is to defend them." "It was not in my interests, nor was it at my suggestion that the Coal and Iron Police were sent to Hazleton. You must remember that I deprecated that step." "Well, we won't go over that matter anew, Harvey; the defense of the Sheriff and Captain Grout is essential to the interests of the Paradise Coal Company. You are the chief counsel of the Company, and I look to you to secure their acquittal."