King Coal Book 2 - The Serfs of King Coal; Sections 18-20

In which Hal observes the subtle and tense struggles of the miners as secretive notes are exchanged and confrontations avoided, leading to his summons before the camp-marshal, where an intricate game of threats and negotiations unfolds around his role as a check-weighman. Amidst veiled menaces and the unveiling of a forged letter, Hal engages the camp-marshal in a battle of wits, hinting at identities concealed beneath labourer's garb and the shadowed weight of influence wielded by the powerful company.