Then, in the next moment, Tom suddenly shot out: "Harry, see to it that our friend doesn't run away just yet!" "What are you up to?" demanded the man, as Tom stepped close once more, while Harry rested a hand on his shoulder. "For a rather warm evening," Reade rejoined, "it strikes me that it's a bit odd for you to be wearing a long top-coat. I'm going to look you over a bit." "You get out and keep away from me!" blustered the man, raising one of his fists. But Harry caught at that arm and held it. Treasurer Prenter, who had been looking on with keen interest, seized the other arm. "You let go of me, or you'll run up against the law for assault!" warned the stranger. His captors, however, held him, while Tom rapidly ran his hands over the stranger's clothing. As a result, within less than a full minute, Tom had removed two full quart bottles and six smaller ones from the fellow's various pockets. All of these the young chief engineer threw on the ground, smashing them. From the crowd gathered about, which numbered more than sixty men of three different races, a howl went up. President Bascomb began to shiver. "I'll make you sweat for this!" raved the stranger. "Let go of the fellow, please," said Tom. Then, as Harry and Mr. Prenter stepped aside, Reade added, "I'll admit, Mr. Bootleg, that I've behaved in a rather high-handed fashion with you. But I'm justified in doing it. You have been breaking the law of the state, moving through this camp and selling liquor. You represent the scum of the otherwise decent population of Alabama. If you think you've any redress in the courts, my name is Reade and you can hire a lawyer and get after me as hard and as fast as you like." "I'll take personal satisfaction out of you!" stormed the fellow. "All right," Tom agreed laconically. "You may start now, if you feel like doing it. I'll agree that none of my friends or workmen shall take any part in anything you feel like starting. If you can thrash me then you shall be allowed to depart in peace after you've done it." Tom did not put up his hands, though he watched keenly to see whether the stranger meant to attack him. The stranger muttered unintelligible threats, then he turned to the laborers pressing about him. "Men," he demanded, "are you going to be free, or are you going to allow yourselves to be treated like a lot of slaves by this boy?" "If that's all you've got to say," Tom warned "you may as well start now." "Start?" scoffed the sallow-faced one. "Where to?" "Anywhere, outside of this camp," Tom informed him. "You can't stay here any longer, and you can't come here again. If I catch you, again, on this company's property, I'll see to it that you're arrested, and locked up for trespass." "That's the way to talk!" nodded Treasurer Prenter, approvingly. "I guess I'll go when I get good and ready," asserted the stranger.