"Are you men or squaws?" called, Duff loudly. "I have brought the stuff
over here for a merry night of it. This boy says you can't have your
enjoyment. Are you going to let him rule you in that fashion, or are
you going to throw him out of here?"
There came from the crowd a gradually increasing murmur of rage.
"Throw this boy out, if you're men!" Duff jeered. "Throw him out, I
say, and send word to your railroad people to put a man here in his
place."
The murmurs increased, especially from the Mexicans, for the Mexican
peon, or laborer, is often a furious gambler who will stake even the
shirt on his back.
Foreman Mendoza, who understood his own people, started forward, but
Tom, with a signal, caused him to halt.
"Throw him out, I say!" yelled Duff shrilly. "Duff, I'm afraid you're
making a fool of yourself," remarked Tom, stepping forward, smiling
cheerfully.
Yet another murmur, now growing to a yell, rose from some of the men--a
few of the men, too, who were not Mexicans, and a half-hearted rush was
made in the young engineer's direction.
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