It depends on the weather." Some of them growled, and Festing felt Charnock's hand close warningly on his arm.
"Won't you come into the light, boys ?" the latter asked.

"I'd like to know to whom I'm talking." They did not move, and Charnock resumed: "Have you brought your foreman or Wilkinson ?" Somebody said neither had come, and Charnock nodded.
"Well, I reckon they know what's best for them! Wilkinson doesn't like me, but he's not looking for more trouble; I imagine he's had enough.
Then the foreman's not a friend of mine, but he has a better job than yours and means to hold it down.

If you get up against the bosses, he's not going to be fired." There was silence, and he saw his remarks had not been wasted.

He had hinted that the men were being used and given them ground to distrust their leaders.
"I half expected another fellow, a friend of Wilkinson's, who claimed he had been hit by a stone.

Has he come along ?" "Said he was too sore and would have to lay off to-morrow," one replied.
"That's another thing.