their guns and swear by their officers, and put up with a bit of bullying sometimes."
"I'm afeared they're feather-bed soldiers, a lot of them."
"They'd oughter pull it out," remarked Jim. "They've got a mighty good start."
"Their mill and machines work stunnin'; they're good at that. Them houses is fit for squatters."
"Eh, and mark you, it's a fine thing to be able to take it all away by canal and river to the sea. They do say the Store in town's well-nigh finished; that'll open people's eyes! And two ships they've bought. Going to work everythink theyselves, and pocket all the profits."
"Couldna be no better idee," replied Alec. "It's bound to come." And the old man sang—
"'For a' that, an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
When man to man, the warld o'er,
Shall brithers be for a' that."
"T' only thing is," continued Alec, "will these high-cock-a-doodle coves playing like children go through with the campaign? They won't mutiny, will they?"
"That's the danger," nodded Jim, significantly.
"See that fellow there they calls Malduke? He means no good."
"I don't think as he do."
"See him gassin' with them simpletons who fancies theysel's. They're goin' to have a meetin' to-night 'to consider matters.'"
"That was a rummy business, that burstin' of the dam t'other night. There's somethin' behind that."
"See Mr. Travers talking and laughing with Elms's daughter. There'll be trouble over that. What do they want to bring love-affairs into a concern like this for?
