hile the men made room for us, "they're a goin' to drown
bull-poop."

I hurried on after my uncle and heard a trampling of feet behind me, but
I took no notice, only as I reached the dam there was quite a little
crowd closing in.

"Wayert a minute, mester," said one of the grinders. "I'll get 'ee bit
o' iron and a bit o' band to tie round poop's neck."

For answer, Uncle Bob took the dog by his collar and hind-legs, and
kneeling down on the stone edge of the dam plunged him head-first into
the water, drew him out, and plunged him in again twice.

"Yow can't drownd him like that," cried one.

"He's dowsing on him to bring him round," said another; and then, as
Uncle Bob laid the dog down and stood up to watch him, there was a burst
of laughter in the little crowd, for all our men were collected now.

"Yes, laugh away, you cowardly hounds," said Uncle Bob indignantly, and
I looked at him wonderingly, for he had always before seemed to be so
quiet and good-tempered a fellow. "It's a pity, I suppose, that you did
not kill the dog right out the same as, but for a lucky accident, you
might have poisoned this boy here."

"Who poisoned lad?" said a grinder whom I had seen insolent more than
once.

"I don't know," cried Uncle Bob; "but I know it was done by the man or
men who stole those bands last night; and I know that it was done by
someone in these works, and that you nearly all of you know who it was."

There was a low growl here.

"And a nice cowardly contemptible trick it was!" cried Uncle Bob,
standing up taller than any man there, and with his eyes flashing. "I
always thought Englishmen were plucky, straightforward fellows, above
such blackguards' tricks as these. Workmen! Why, the scoundrels who
did this are unworthy of the name."

There was another menacing growl here.

"Too cowardly to fight men openly, they come in the night and strike at
boys, and dogs, and steal."

"Yow lookye here," said the big grinder, taking off his jacket and
baring his strong arms; "yow called me a coward, did you?"

"Yes, and any of you who know who did this coward's trick," cried Uncle
Bob angrily.

"Then tek that!" cried the man, striking at him full in the face.

I saw Uncle Bob catch the blow on his right arm, dart out his left and
strike the big grinder in the mouth; and then, before he could recover
himself, my uncle's right fist flashed through the air like lightning,
and the man staggered and then fell with