“It’s about time we had a union,” said one.

“Ay,” replied another, “so that some bigmouthed idiot can pocket the money an’ get a guid saft job oot o’ it.”

“We’ve had plenty of unions,” put in another.  “The last yin we started here—­ye mind Bob Ritchie gaed aff to America wi’ a’ the money.  It was a fine go for him!”

“Oh, ay, but let us see what can be done wi’ this case,” said Jamie Lauder.  “Hoo’ wad it do if we appointed a deputation to gang an’ lay the hale thing afore Mr. Rundell?”

Jamie was always listened to with the respect due to his proved good sense, for everyone knew that he was a man who would not intentionally hurt a fellow creature by word or deed.

“I believe it wad be a guid plan,” agreed Tam Tate.  “He maybe disna ken the hauf that gangs on.  What do ye a’ think o’ it, men?”

This was before the days of limited companies and coal syndicates, and the proprietor of the pits in Lowwood, Mr. Rundell, lived about two miles out of the village.  He was not a bad man, as men go; he was fiery and quick-tempered, but had a not ungenerous nature withal, and was usually susceptible to a reasoned statement.  Just as they were about to decide on a course of action, Andrew spoke:  “I dinna want ony mair o’ ye than can be helped to get into bother, so, if ye like, Jamie Lauder—­if he’s agreeable—­could gang wi’ me and Geordie Sinclair, and we’ll put the hale case afore him an’ see what he mak’s o’t.”

This was received with approval, and it was agreed that Andrew, Jamie and Geordie should form the deputation.

But Black Jock soon heard of the decision, and, as usual, acted with alacrity; for, had the men only known it, they had decided on a course which he did not want them to adopt.  He visited Jamie Lauder, and told him that the day before Rundell and he had agreed that the places in the Black Horse Dook should be started at once, and that he was angry at the course taken by the men.  He believed that Mr. Rundell would also be very angry, and if only Andrew and Geordie had come to him the night before, they could have been working that day.  He represented Rundell as being in an explosive mood, and that he was furious at the men taking the idle day, and that he had threatened that if they were not at work next day, he would lock them out.  So plausibly did he speak, and so sincere did his concern appear, that Jamie, who was withal a simple man, and aware that the circumstances of his comrades would not admit of a very long fight, began to think it might be as Black Jock had said.

“I think ye’d better ca’ a meetin’ o’ the men, Jamie, and put the hale case afore them.  Let them ken that Rundell decided just yesterday to start the places, and that Andra and Geordie can start the morn.  I ha’e no ill wull at ony o’ the twa o’ them, and I’m vexed that things ha’e been as bad as they’ve been, but I couldna get the boss to start the places, and what could I do?  They can a’ be back at their work the morn if they like to look at it reasonably.  Of course, ye can please yersel’,” he went on, “it’s a’ yin to me; but if Rundell tak’s it into his head to ha’e a fight, well—­ye ken what it means, an’ I wouldna like to ha’e ony strife the noo’, for times are very hard for us a’.”