Dick; "we've done it at last."

"No, not yet," said Uncle Jack; "we've won the men to our side and all
who know us will take our part, but there is that ugly demon to exorcise
yet that they call the traade."

That night I was going back alone when my heart gave a sort of leap, for
just before me, and apparently waylaying me, were two of the boys who
had been foremost in hunting me that day. My temper rose and my cheeks
flushed; but they had come upon no inimical errand, for they both
laughed in a tone that bespoke them the sons of Gentles, and the bigger
one spoke in a bashful sort of way.

"Moother said we was to come and ax your pardon, mester. It were on'y
meant for a game, and she leathered us both for it."

"And will you hev this?" said the other, holding out something in a
piece of brown-paper.

"I sha'n't take any more notice of it," I said quietly; "but I don't
want any present."

"There, moother said he'd be over proud to tak it," said the younger lad
resentfully to his brother.

"No, I am not too proud," I said; "give it to me. What is it?"

"Best knife they maks at our wucks," said the boy eagerly. "It's rare
stoof. I say, we're going to learn to swim like thou."

They both nodded and went away, leaving me thinking that I was after
this to be friends with the Arrowfield boys as well as the men.

They need not have put it in the newspaper, but there it was, a long
account headed "Gallant rescue by a boy." It was dressed up in a way
that made my cheeks tingle, and a few days later the tears came into my
eyes as I read a letter from my mother telling me she had read in the
newspaper what I had done, and--

There, I will not set that down. It was what my mother said, and every
British boy knows what his mother would say of an accident like that.

It was wonderful how the works progressed after this, and how
differently the men met us. It was not only our own, but the men at all
the works about us. Instead of a scowl or a stare there was a nod, and
a gruff "good morning." In fact, we seemed to have lived down the
prejudice against the "chaps fro' Lunnon, and their contrapshions;" but
my uncles knew only too well that they had not mastered the invisible
enemy called the trade.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

A TERRIBLE RISK.

"What are you staring at, Cob?"

It was Uncle Jack who spoke, and Uncle Dick had just come up with him,
to find me in the yard, looking up at the building.

It was d