I'd done nowt but be civil to young mester here. Say,"
he cried fiercely, "yow telled 'em I forged that trap!" and he turned on
me.

"Oh, Pannell!" I cried, flushing indignantly.

That was all I said, but it was enough.

"Beg pardon, young gentleman!--yow didn't, I can see that. Nay, it was
the altogetherishness o' the whole thing. They set me down--me, a mate
in the union--as hevvin' telled on 'em and gone agen 'em, and being
friends wi' the mesters; and yow see what they've done."

"Indeed we do, Pannell--"

"Howd hard, mester," said the big smith, flourishing about his hammer.
"I hevn't had my spell yet. I want to speak."

Uncle Dick nodded, as much as to say, "Go on."

"Look here, then, mesters--I've thowt this out. It's cowards' business,
ivvery bit on it, 'cept Matt Stivvins this morning coming and fetching
young mester out of the way."

"Yes," I said, "he did."

"And they'll knobstick 'im for it if they know--see if they don't!"

"Then they mustn't know," I cried eagerly. "I don't like Stevens, but
he did save me this morning."

"Ay, he did, 'cause he said once yow weer a trump, my lad; but he didn't
give me a word. I sha'n't tell on him, but I sha'n't hev nought more to
do wi' anny on 'em. I've been union man all these years and paid, and
here's what I've got for it. I says to mysen, I says: If this here's
what comes o' sticking to union through all their games I've done wi'
'em, and I'm a master's man--that's all."

He turned short round to go, but Uncle Dick stopped him.

"I don't quite understand what you mean, Pannell."

"What I mean! Why, what I said--that's what I mean."

"That you have done with the trades-union, Pannell," I cried, "and mean
to be on our side?"

"That's so, mester. Now I mun go or my fire'll be out."

He strode out of the place and banged the door after him; and as he went
along the shop I could see him in imagination staring defiantly from
side to side, in answer to the savage murmur that greeted him from the
men whom he had made up his mind to defy.

"What do you think of that?" said Uncle Dick, as soon as we heard the
farther door close with a crash.

"It's the beginning of the end," said Uncle Jack with an eager look in
his eyes. "Keep firm, boys, and we shall have them all honestly on our
side, and we can laugh at all trades-unions in Arrowfield that fight
with cowardly weapons. The men do not do what their own feelings
prompt, but obey the law