"Look here, what about this thing? What are you getting at, Jarvis?" demanded Pig-Iron.
"This is the fellow who got us into trouble the other time and he is trying to get Steve in again. If he was the man driving home the dolly, whatever he did was done on purpose. Did he put Steve's life in danger?"
"Nearly killed him. So you're the duffer, are you?" growled the melter. "Git out of this!"
Pig-Iron's voice grew to a roar. He made one leap toward the surly-faced Pole, planting a ponderous fist squarely between Kalinski's eyes.
Kalinski did not rise, for the reason that he could not. Pig-Iron jerked the fellow to his feet, then knocked him clear across the platform.
"Don't hurt him. He has been punished enough," cried Steve.
"It would serve the brute right if I killed him," roared the melter.
Kalinski moaned, stirred, then got to his feet dizzily.
"I'll have you put out of the yards for this," he growled, turning slowly away.
Pig-Iron's right foot shot out. It caught the Pole fairly, lifting the fellow clear of the platform, hurling him headlong to the ground ten feet below.
"There, I guess that will hold him steady for a while. Don't you ever be caught around these furnaces again, unless you want me to finish the job," shouted the boss.
Steve's face wore a serious expression. Bob was grinning.
"I wish Ignatz could have been here to see that," Jarvis said. "It was worth being blown off the roof to see. Say, Mr. Peel, if you ever have occasion to lambaste Watski again, just call to me. I want to see the fun. Wouldn't miss it for anything."
"All hands to number three," commanded the melter. "We're losing time. Daylight will be here almost before we know it now. We have lost one furnace full and we don't want to repeat the performance."
A few minutes later a cast was being made from number three. This time Bob worked on the gutters while Steve continued at his post as monkey-man, toiling in the burning heat, with parched, cracking lips and burning cheeks. Morning found all hands ready for home and bed.
"I wish I knew whether it would be right to see the superintendent," said Steve, as he was walking along with Mr. Peel on the way out.
"I think I have an idea that will perhaps make a great improvement in the furnace end of the business."