is cap to accompany
him, as he always walked across the moor with him until they came to the
path leading down to the back of the mill, this being the road taken by
the hands from Varley coming and going from work. When they had started
a minute or two George, who had been sitting by the fire listening to
the talk, got up and stretched himself preparatory to going to bed, and
said in his usual slow way:

"Oi wonders what they be a-doing tonoight. Twice while ye ha' been
a-talking oi ha' seen a chap a-looking in at t' window."

"Thou hast!" Luke exclaimed, starting up. "Dang thee, thou young fool!
Why didn't say so afore? Oi will hoide thee when oi comes back rarely!
Polly, do thou run into Gardiner's, and Hoskings', and Burt's; tell 'em
to cotch up a stick and to roon for their loives across t' moor toward
t' mill. And do thou, Jarge, roon into Sykes' and Wilmot's and tell 'em
the same; and be quick if thou would save thy skin. Tell 'em t' maister
be loike to be attacked."

Catching up a heavy stick Luke hurried off, running into two cottages
near and bringing on two more of the mill hands with him. He was nearly
across the moor when they heard the sound of a shot. Luke, who was
running at the top of his speed, gave a hoarse cry as of one who had
received a mortal wound. Two shots followed in quick succession. A
minute later Luke was dashing down the hollow through which the path ran
down from the moor. Now he made out a group of moving figures and heard
the sounds of conflict. His breath was coming in short gasps, his teeth
were set; fast as he was running, he groaned that his limbs would carry
him no faster. It was scarce two minutes from the time when the first
shot was fired, but it seemed ages to him before he dashed into the
group of men, knocking down two by the impetus of his rush. He was but
just in time. A figure lay prostrate on the turf; another standing over
him had just been beaten to his knee. But he sprang up again at Luke's
onward rush. His assailants for a moment drew back.

"Thou'rt joist in toime, Luke," Bill panted out. "Oi war well nigh
done."

"Be t' maister shot?"

"No, nowt but a clip wi' a stick."

As the words passed between them the assailants again rushed forward
with curses and execrations upon those who stood between them and their
victim.

"Moind, Luke, they ha' got knoives!" Bill exclaimed. "Oi ha' got more
nor one slash already."

Luke and Bill fought vigorously, but they we