in the Castle Walls_

In 1842 came the great stoppage of work. The mills ceased; the miners
went "to play," despairing of a fair day's wage for a fair day's work;
and the inhabitants of Woodgate--the Hell-cats, as they were called--
stirred up by a Chartist delegate, sallied forth with Simon Hatton,
named the "liberator," at their head to deal ruthlessly with all
"oppressors of the people."

They sacked houses, plundered cellars, ravaged provision shops,
destroyed gas-works and stormed workhouses. In time they came to
Mowbray. There the liberator came face to face with Baptist Hatton
without recognising his brother.

Stephen Morley and Baptist Hatton were in close conference.

"The times are critical," said Hatton.

"Mowbray may be burnt to the ground before the troops arrive," Morley
replied.

"And the castle, too," said Hatton quietly. "I was thinking only
yesterday of a certain box of papers. To business, friend Morley. This
savage relative of mine cannot be quiet. If he does not destroy
Trafford's Mill it will be the castle. Why not the castle instead of the
mill?"

Trafford's Mill was saved by the direct intervention of Walter Gerard.
All the people of Mowbray knew the good reputation of the Traffords, and
Gerard's eloquence turned the mob from the attack.

While the liberator and the Hell-cats hesitated, a man named Dandy Mick,
prompted by Morley, urged that a walk should be taken in Lord de
Mowbray's park.

The proposition was received with shouts of approbation. Gerard
succeeded in detaching a number of Mowbray men, but the Hell-cats, armed
with bludgeons, poured into the park and on to the castle.

Lady de Mowbray and her friends made their escape, taking Sybil, who had
sought refuge from the mob, with them.

Mr. St. Lys gathered a body of men in defence of the castle, but came
too late to prevent the entrance of the Hell-cats. Singularly enough,
Morley and one or two of his followers entered with the liberator.

The first great rush was to the cellars, and the invaders were quickly
at work knocking off the heads of bottles, and brandishing torches.
Morley and his lads traced their way down a corridor to the winding
steps of the Round Tower, and forced their way into the muniment room of
the castle. It was not till his search had nearly been abandoned in
despair that he found the small blue box blazoned with the arms of
Valence. He passed it hastily to a trusted companion, Dandy Mick, and
bade