midday
Morning broke , gray and threatening , while through shack and cabin an ugly temper spread steadily . Clark perceived that the real thing was coming now . Once or twice he thought of Semple , who must already be closeted with the Premier . Just before midday a howling mob gathered swiftly outside the big gates , when instantly Baudette and his fifty axemen ran up and joined the guards . The crowd increased , and there went out an imperative summons to Manson who , with his thirty police , ranged himself half a mile away on the road to St. Marys . But for this the town was utterly unprotected . Came the pad pad of flying feet , and Fisette dashed up , swinging a prospecting pick .