The next morning after his conversation with Britt, he rode out to the mines.

When he reached the brow of the last hill, overlooking the wide expanse in which the men toiled, he drew rein sharply and stared aghast at what lay before him.
Instead of the usual activity, there was not a man in sight.

It was some time before his bewildered brain could grasp the meaning of the puzzle.
Selim, who rode behind, came up and without a word directed his master's attention to the long ridge of trees that bordered the broken hillsides.
Then he saw the miners.

Five hundred half-naked brown men were congregated in the shade of the trees, far to the right.

By the aid of his glasses he could see that one of their number was addressing them in an earnest, violent harangue.