The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-12-03
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The
SILVER =
HORDE
BY REX BEACH.
Author Of Tho Spoiless" and
The Barrier
copyriaht, 1909. by Harper a Brothers
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into the. Kalvik river on the
first day of July. For q week
past the run had been slowly
growing while the canneries tested
themselves, but on the opening day Of
the new month the horde issued boldly
forth from the depths of the sea, and
the battle began in earnest
At times they swan with cleaving
fms exposed. Again they churned the
placid waters until swift combers
raced across the shallow bars like
tidal waves, while the deeper channels
were shot through with shadowy forms
or pierced by the lightning CLINT Of Sill
vered bellies They streamed in with
the flood tide to retreat again with the
ebb, but there was neither haste nor
caution in their progress. They had
come in answer to the breeding call of
the sea, and it's exultation was upon
them, driving them relentlessly on
ward. They had no voice against its
overmastering spell.
The time had come for man to take
his TOLL
At Emerson's cannery there fell
sudden panic, for fifty fishermen quit.
Returning from the banks on the night
before the run started, they stacked
their gear and notified Boyd Emerson
of their determination. Then. despite
his utmost efforts to d1ssuade them,
they took their packs upon their shout
ders and marched up the beach to Will
lis Marsh's plant. Larsen. the day
foreman, acted as their spokesman,
and Boyd recognized too late the result
of that conversation he had interrupt
ed on the night of bis visit to Cherry.
This detection diminished his boat
crew by more than halt, and, while the
shoremen stoutly maintained their 10y
atty, the chance of putting up pack
seemed lost. Boyd swallowed his pride
and went straightway to his enemy.
He found Marsh well recovered from
his flesh wound Of week or more be-
fore, yet extremely cautious for his
safety, as he evidenced by conducting
the interview before witnesses.
1--WE are short handed. and I gave
instructions to secure every available
man." he announced atsthe conclusion
of Emerson's story. 1T is not my fault
If your men prefer to work for me-"
"Then you force me to retaliate,"
said Boyd. II shall hire your men out
from under you
Marsh laughed provokingly.
"Try it! l am good organizer, if
nothing else. If you send emissaries
to my plants it will cause certain vio-
lence, and 1 think you had better
avoid that, for we outnumber you ten
to one"
Emerson left in disgust. Nor had
he hit upon any method Of relief when
Cherry came down to the plant on the
following morning. She inquired
straightway:
''What are you doing about it? You
can't afford to lose an hour"
Il have sent man to each Of the
other plants to hire fishermen at any
price, but l have no hope that they
will succeed. Marsh has his crews too
well in hand for that :
Cherry nodded. 'They wouldn't
dare quit him now He'd never let
them return to this country If: they
did. Meanwhile the rest of your force
is on the banks. I presume"
EYES," :
"How many boats have youT
"Ten'
Heavens! And this is the first day
Of the run! It looks bad. doesn't it?
Has the trap begun to Clip"
mo. George is down there now. I
guess Marsh succeeded in corking it.
Meanwhile all the other plants are
working while my Chinks are playing
1antan. I seem to bring misfortune
upon every one connected. with me.
don't II" he added: I'm afraid I'm
poor sort"
How boyish he was, the girl thought
tenderly, yet how splendidly brave he
had been throughout the fight! There
was voiceless, maternal warming in
her heart as she asked him grayely:
IF you fail now it will nnean-the
aDd Of everything, will It not7'
YES" He squared his tired shoul-
ders. But am not beaten.yet.. You
caught me never to give up, Cherry.
IT have to go back home without a
catch and see billiard take this plant
over, why-Iu begin once more at
something new, and some day will
succeed. But I shan't give up. I'll
can what salmon we catch and then
begin all over again next season."
"And-suppose you don't succeed?
Suppose billiard won't garry you?"
Then I shall try something else.
Maybe I shall go to mining again. I
don't know. Anyhow, she would not
let me grow disheartened If she were
here. She wouldn't let me quit. She
isn't that Sort
Cherry Malotte stirred and shifted
her gaze uncertainty to the cleaning
bay. Abreast Of them the feet Of
fishing boats were drifting with the
tide. In the distance others were dot
ted clear away to where the opal
ocean lay. A tug was passing, and
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