'He's dead, Sean.'
'Pa,' Dirk started.
'Shut up!' Sean ordered him grimly. 'Who is he?' he fired at the
constable.
'Norman Van Eek, one of your fitters from the mill.
'How many witnesses?'
'Fourteen of them, sir. They all saw it.'
'Right,' Sean ordered, 'get the body down to the police station.
You'll be able to take statements from them tomorrow morning.
'What about the accused ... I mean what about your son, sir? ' The
constable corrected himself.
'I'll be responsible for him.
'I'm not sure that I shouldn't . He saw the expression on Sean's face.
'Well, that will be all right, I suppose, ' he agreed reluctantly.
'Pa . Dirk started again.
'I told you to keep your mouth shut-you've done enough damage for one
night. ' Sean spoke without looking at him, then to the barman.
'Fetch a blanket.' Then to the police constable,
'Get some of them to help you,' and he pointed towards the window which
was lined four deep with curious faces.
'Very well, Mr. Courtney. ' After they had shuffled out with the
blanket-wrapped body, Sean glanced significantly at Dr. Fraser.
'I'd better get down there and complete my examination.
'You go ahead,' Sean agreed and the doctor packed his bag and went.
Sean closed the door behind him and slammed the shutters across the
window. Then he turned to the men who stood anxious along the bar.
'What happened?' They stirred restlessly and looked everywhere but at
him.
'You, George?' Sean selected one of his mechanics.
'Well, Mr. Courtney your Dirk went up to Norman and hit him off the
stool.
Then he kicked him as he was trying to get up, then he picked up the
stool and hit him with it.' The mechanic stumbled hoarsely through his
explanation.
'Did this man provoke him?' Sean demanded.
'Well, he called you a-begging your pardon, Mr. Courtney-he called you
a big, idle, bloodsucking bastard. ' Sean frowned quickly. 'Did he
now! What else did he say?'
'He said you were a slave owner-that you starved your men.
He said that he was going to get even with you sometime.'
Arrhy Longwortby took over the telling of it with a note of
interrogation in his voice as he glanced around at the others for
support. After a few seconds there was a guilty nodding of heads and a
few murmurs of agreement. Archy took courage from it.
'He sort of hinted that he was going to wait for you one night and get
even.
'Did he say that in so many words?' Sean's presence dominated the room
with such an obvious air of authority that when Archy looked again for
support he found it in their faces.
