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heā€™s got to offer. Weā€™ve got here what theyā€™re fighting for all over the worldā ā€Šā ā€¦ itā€™s bigger than ourselves.

ā€œMā€™Ginnis says heā€™s heard a lot of ā€˜the freedom to starve on the Ridgeā€™ā ā€”itā€™s more than I have, itā€™s a sure thing if he wants to starve, nobodyā€™d stop him.ā ā€Šā ā€¦ā€

A wave of laughter passed over the hall.

ā€œBut most of us here havenā€™t any fancy for starving, and whatā€™s more, nobody has ever starved on the Ridge. I donā€™t say that we havenā€™t had hard times, that we havenā€™t gone on short commonsā ā€”we have; but we havenā€™t starved, and weā€™re not going to.ā ā€Šā ā€¦

ā€œThis talk of buying up the mines comes at the only time it would have been listened to in the last half-dozen years. It hits us when weā€™re down, in a way; but the slumpā€™ll pass. Thereā€™ve been slumps before, and theyā€™ve passed.ā ā€Šā ā€¦ Mr. Armitage thinks so, or he wouldnā€™t be so keen on getting hold of the mines.

ā€œAnd as to production of stone and development of the mines, it seems to me we can do more ourselves than any Proprietary Company, Ltd., or syndicate ever made could. Didnā€™t old Mr. Armitage, himself, say once that he didnā€™t know a better conducted or more industrious mining community than this one. ā€˜Why dā€™yā€™ think that is?ā€™ I asked him. He said he didnā€™t know. I said, ā€˜You donā€™t think the way the men feel about their workā€™s got anything to do with it?ā€™ ā€˜Damn it, Michael,ā€™ he said, ā€˜I donā€™t want to think so.ā€™

ā€œAnd I happen to knowā€ā ā€”Michael smiled slightly towards John Armitage, who was gazing at him with tense features and hands tightly folded and crossed under his chinā ā€”ā€œthat the old man is opposed even now to this scheme because he thinks he wonā€™t get as much black opal out of us as he does under our own way of doing things. He remembers the Cliffs, and what taking over of the mines did for opalā ā€”and the menā ā€”there. This scheme is Mr. John Armitageā€™s idea.ā ā€Šā ā€¦

ā€œHeā€™s put it to you. Youā€™ve heard what it is. All Iā€™ve got to say now is, donā€™t touch it. Donā€™t have anything to do with it.ā ā€Šā ā€¦ Itā€™ll break usā ā€Šā ā€¦ the spirit of the men hereā ā€Šā ā€¦ and itā€™ll break what weā€™ve been working on all these years. If it means throwing that up, donā€™t let us see which side our breadā€™s buttered on, as Mr. Mā€™Ginnis says. Let us say like we always haveā ā€”like weā€™ve been proud to say: ā€˜Weā€™ll eat bread and fat, but weā€™ll be our own masters!ā€™ā€Šā€

ā€œWeā€™ll eat bread and fat, but weā€™ll be our own masters!ā€ the men who were with Michael roared.

He sat down amid cheers. George and Watty turned in their seats to beam at him, filled with rejoicing.

Armitage rose from his chair and shifted his papers as though he had not quite decided what he intended to say.

ā€œIā€™m not going to ask this meeting for a decision,ā€ he began.

ā€œYou can have it!ā€ Bully Bryant yelled.

ā€œThereā€™s a bit of a rush at Blue Pigeon Creek, and Iā€™m going on up there,ā€ John Armitage continued. ā€œIā€™m due in Sydney at the end of the monthā ā€”that is, a month from this dateā ā€”and Iā€™ll run up then for your answer to the proposition which has been laid before you. I have said all there is to say about it, except that, notwithstanding anything which may have been asserted to the contrary, I hope you will give your gravest consideration to an enterprise, I am convinced, would be in the best interests of this town and of the people of Fallen Star Ridge. I think, however, you ought to knowā ā€”ā€

ā€œThat Michael Bradyā€™s a liar and a thief!ā€ Charley cried, springing from his corner as if loosed from some invisible leash. ā€œIf you believe him, youā€™re believing a liar and a thief. Mr. Armitage knowsā ā€Šā ā€¦ I knowā ā€Šā ā€¦ and Paul knowsā ā€”ā€

ā€œThrow him out.ā€

ā€œHeā€™s mad!ā€

The cries rose in a tumult of angry voices. When they were at their height Mā€™Ginnis was seen on his feet and waving his arms.

ā€œLet him say what heā€™s got to!ā€ he shouted. ā€œYou chaps know as well as I do whatā€™s been going the rounds, and we might as well have it out now. If itā€™s not true, Michaelā€™d rather have the strength of it, and give you his answerā ā€Šā ā€¦ and if there is anything in it, weā€™ve got a right to know.ā€

ā€œThatā€™s right!ā€ some of the men near him chorused.

Newton looked towards George, and George towards Michael.

ā€œMight as well have it,ā€ Michael said.

Charley, who had been hustled against the wall by Potch and Bully Bryant, was loosed. He moved a few steps forward so that everyone could see him, and breathlessly, shivering, in a frenzy of triumphant malice, told his story. Rouminof, carried away by excitement, edged alongside him, chiming into what he was saying with exclamations and chippings of corroboration.

When Charley had finished talking and had fallen back exhausted, Armitage left his chair as if to continue what he had been going to say when Charley took the floor. Instead, he hesitated, and, feeling his way through the silence of consternation and dismay which had stricken everybody, said uncertainly:

ā€œMuch as I regret having to do so, I consider it my duty to state that Charley Heathfieldā€™s story, as far as I know it, is substantially correct. Some time ago I was sold a stone in New York. As soon as he saw it, my father said, ā€˜Why, thatā€™s Michaelā€™s mascot.ā€™ I asked him if he were sure, and he declared that he could not be mistaken about the stone.ā ā€Šā ā€¦

ā€œI told him the story I had got with it. Charley has already told you. That stone came from a parcel Charley supposed contained Rouminofā€™s opalsā ā€”the one Paul got when Jun Johnson and he had a run of luck together. The parcel did not contain Rouminofā€™s opals, and had been exchanged for the parcel which did, either while Rouminof and Charley were going home together or after he had taken them from Rouminof. My father refused to believe

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