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The next day Johnson burst into O'Grady's office where, that very morning, the Chief
Foreman had collapsed, weak from hunger, and was lying on a cot. 'Mr. O'Grady, sir. There are miners all over the place. Half the second shift are out of the barracks. A Marshal has been wounded.' 'What?' said O'Grady weakly. 'What's that you say?' 'It was Ursus Griffon done it.' Ursus liked hunting with a bow. Willis had given him a good strip of metal some months before which he had been harboring. The Marshal encountered the hunter by the railroad tracks as he was trying out his new weapon. When the Marshal tried to use his club the hunter shot at him without hesitation. 'Where's Griffon now?' 'Gone. We're trying to drive the rest of the men back into the barracks but they say they've permission to be out.' 'Who gave them permission?' 'A foreman named Carl, they say. I don't know any foreman called Carl. Anyway, a foreman can't change the rules.' 'Why, that's young Relyt. You know him Johnson. He's one of your men.' O'Grady leaned up on one elbow and tried to see out of the door. 'See if he's out there will you?' 'Relyt? He's not a foreman,' said Johnson suspiciously. 'He is now. I just made him a Special Foreman, Johnson. Relyt's got a job to do for me.' 'You didn't tell us about this, O'Grady. And anyway, you can't make foremen. Only Mr. Bluemud can do that.' 'I never told you, Johnson,' said O'Grady with an effort, 'because I'm too damned sick! Look at me! I reckon I'm dying, don't you? As for Mr. Bluemud, he's not here and have you ever known him not to accept who I propose? Anyway, if I die, I'll never see him again. Now fetch Vincent. Carl'll be with him in his office.' Johnson left sullenly to fetch Carl and Vincent. When he returned with them he followed behind them brandishing his club conspicuously. O'Grady said pompously, 'What's this Johnson tells me about your telling these men they could get out, Relyt?' 'Since you'd seen sense in one thing, I thought you would see sense in another, O'Grady,' said Carl calmly, grasping his own club in his belt and keeping an eye on Johnson. 'Ursus will be miles away by now. You can't do anything until he gets back. If he shot the Marshal he must have had good reason.' 'Why, you impudent young...' Johnson raised his club to strike at Carl but he was very weak and Carl, with his own club, forced him back against the wall. 'Now Johnson, Relyt!' said O'Grady as they struggled. 'You'll be the death of me, the pair of you. Put those clubs down. Johnson, do as you're told man! Look at Vincent here. He does what I tell him. If I die it'll be him that takes over from me until Mr. Bluemud gets back, not you. Vincent take that club away from him.' Vincent obeyed. He too had mixed feelings about Carl's intrusion and under normal circumstances would have resented and resisted it. But these were not normal times. He was as hungry as anyone else and, in addition, he could see some potential for profit for himself in the situation that was developing. 'Now, I'm telling you for the last time, Johnson.' said O'Grady as the men stood apart. 'This man's a foreman now. What he does, he does because I tell him to. I don't have to consult with you and that's an end of it. Do you understand?' Johnson mumbled under his breath, saying nothing audible. O'Grady continued, 'Now what are we going to do about this Griffon?' 'Wait until he returns,' said Carl.' If he has nothing and can't explain his actions he should be punished. If he brings food for you O'Grady, you must thank him.' 'That sounds good to me,' said O'Grady. 'Now you boys go away. I want to be alive to eat this meat when it arrives.' Within three days following this incident venison, bear and turkey were being roasted in the woods close by the barracks and nearby, in a place that Mr. Bluemud would not find, a permanent cookhouse was under construction. Within three weeks there was sufficient food for everyone and plenty for O'Grady who began to recover and was grateful. |
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