g fellow," said Marston smiling, "only one, if they
are all here. What do they want? Have they caught anyone?"

"No, sir. They want to see you. I told them you were too bad; but they
say they will see you."

"I'll go and speak to them and see what they want," said the squire.
"Is it anything about paying their wages?"

"Oh dear, no!" said Marston. "They have been paid as usual. Shall I go
down to them, doctor?"

"If you do I'll throw up your case," cried the doctor fiercely. "Bless
my soul, no! Do you think I want you in a state of high fever. Stop
where you are, sir. Stop where you are."

"I'll go," said the squire, "before they pull the house down."

For the men were getting clamorous, and shouting loudly for Mr Marston.

The squire descended, and Dick with him, to find the front garden of the
old farm-house full of great swarthy black-bearded fellows, everyone
armed with a cudgel or a pick-axe handle, some having only the parts of
broken shovels.

"Well, my lads, what is it?" said the squire, facing them.

A tremendous yell broke out, every man seeming to speak at once, and
nothing could be understood.

"Hullo, Hickathrift! You're there, are you?" said the squire. "What do
they want?"

"Well, you see, squire," began the wheelwright; but his voice was
drowned by another furious yell.

"Don't all speak at once!" cried Dick, who had planted himself upon a
rough block of stone that had been dug out of the ruins and placed in
the front of the house.

There was something so droll to the great band of workmen in a mere
stripling shouting to them in so commanding a way, that they all burst
into a hearty laugh.

"Here, let Hicky speak!" cried Dick.

"Yes!--Ay!--Ah!--Let big Hickathrift speak!" was shouted out.

"Keep quiet, then," said the wheelwright, "or how can I! You see,
squire," he continued, "the lads came along by my place, and they said
some one had put it about that one of them had fired a shot at the young
engyneer, and they're all popped about it, and want to see Mr Marston
and tell him it isn't true."

"You can't see Mr Marston, my lads," said the squire.

Here there was a fierce yell.

"The doctor says it would do him harm," continued the squire, "and you
don't want to do that."

"Nay, nay, we wean't do that," shouted one of the men.

"But I may tell you that Mr Marston says that he does not believe
there's a man among you who would do him any harm."

"Hooray!" shouted o