(_He has risen and stands looking back through the darkness_)
What do you say, Harvey, let's spend the night back in the cabin. It ain't the cold I mind, but from the air I wouldn't be surprised if it would snow.
(_Bill Patten comes through the darkness, rear right. He looks about, then spies the men_)
You got some grub that you can spare, boys?
(_Goes near the men and gets their line of vision_)
Against the sky it looked like some far fire.
You're of the force that's huntin' for the mine?
'Tain't no use A-fightin' that old wolf or 'spectin' God To put his hand between J. D. and gold. He's got a devil that takes care of him.
(_Silas Maury and his son Willie, a boy of twelve or thirteen, enter rear_)
And the same devil blacks Aug. Jergens' boots. I'd like to get that man in some lone spot.
(_They sit down. The workmen seize food and eat ravenously_)
I ain't a man To show the white while there's a chance to win.
They've got till sun-down to report for work.
They'll feel like dogs, too, goin' in that gate, After the bluff they've made, lickin' his hand. Me for some other town. I'd rather starve.
They're 'ranging to bring in a lot of scabs To-morrow, when the Governor will be there.
Much as to say, 'Now knock 'em!' Son of a bitch!
Explains the lights. They're getting things in shape.
(_He and Anderson walk a little way left and look back toward the mansion_)
When the boys First talked of strikin' when they made the cut I said, 'Don't do it. Egerton's a man-- You'd better fight the Devil than fight him. He'll show no mercy on you if you cross him.' I guess they know by now that Bill was right. Sam Williams though he thinks he knows. 'Hang on.' All right, hang on; but you will see what comes. It's hell. I'd rather die out on some rock.
There ain't no room for poor men in this world. I don't know what God ever made us for.
The man that's got no home's a lucky man.
I said to Willie, 'I'm glad mother's dead.'
That's true. I hope she can't. She died a-thinkin' Willie would be rich Some day, if they ever found the mine.
Give 'em your apples and expect the core.
It came so quick, though, Bill; he didn't think.
If he had just kept still and called to Chris And had him help and roll the log aside And then at night let some of us men know, We could have slipped it out and hidden it, And gone to Egerton and said, 'See here, We've found the log that you've been lookin' for These years and haven't found it----'