the dark, under a
hedge, or at the end of a lane. Martha never alluded to the subject
with her husband. He had once said to her himself--

"Mind what you've promised."

She replied,--

"Never fear. I said I wouldn't tell, and I haven't told. I haven't
breathed a word to any one as wasn't in the house the night when you
talked it over."

Her husband was satisfied.

Betty was gone to her aunt's, and it was positively ascertained that she
was not to return that night. Johnson had clearly no intention of
spending the night away from home, for, as he was leaving the pit-bank,
when Will Jones stepped up to him and said,--

"Well, Thomas, I suppose you'll have a rare tale to tell about your old
mates to-morrow; we must come all on us and hearken you."

He had quietly replied,--

"I hope, Will, you'll hear nothing as'll do any of you any harm, and I
hope you wish me none, as I'm sure I don't wish any harm to you. I
mustn't tarry now, for our Betty's off; and I've much to do at home, for
to-morrow'll be a busy day for me."

A little later on, towards nine o'clock, one of the men in the plot
passed by Johnson's house, and heard his voice in conversation with some
one else. All, therefore, was in a right train for their scheme to
succeed. At ten o'clock the whole party met in a lane near Will
Jones's.

"It's all right," said the man who had heard Johnson in conversation
with another man a short time before. "Thomas'll be fast asleep afore
long. The window's all right, too; I just slipped round to the back and
looked at it."

"Well," said Jones, "now we must all on us go home. We mustn't be seen
together. We're all to meet in the field when the church clock strikes
two. Who's got the powder and the lamp-black?"

"I have," replied a voice.

"And who's got the ropes?"

"I have," whispered another.

"Well, that's all right," said Will, with a low, chuckling laugh. "I've
got the lantern and furze. I've picked out some with a rare lot of
pricks on't. I reckon he'll not look so handsome in the morning."

Quietly and stealthily they separated, and shrunk off to their own
houses.

A few hours later, and several dusky figures were slipping along with as
little noise as possible towards the dwelling of the poor victim. It
was still very boisterous, but the rain had almost ceased. Thick, heavy
clouds, black as ink, were being hurried across the sky, while the wind
was whistling keenly round the ends