re overmatched. Anger and
fear for Ned's safety nerved Luke's arm, the weight of the last twenty
years seemed to drop off him, and he felt himself again the sturdy young
cropper who could hold his own against any in the village. But he had
not yet got back his breath, and was panting heavily. The assailants,
six in number, were active and vigorous young men; and Bill, who was
streaming with blood from several wounds, could only fight on the
defensive. Luke then gave a short cry of relief as the two men who had
started with him, but whom he had left behind from the speed which his
intense eagerness had given him, ran up but a short minute after he had
himself arrived and ranged themselves by him. The assailants hesitated
now.

"Ye'd best be off," Luke said; "there ull be a score more here in a
minute."

With oaths of disappointment and rage the assailants fell back and were
about to make off when one of them exclaimed: "Ye must carry Tom off wi'
thee. It ull never do to let un lay here."

The men gathered round a dark figure lying a few yards away. Four of
them lifted it by the hands and feet, and then they hurried away across
the moor. As they did so Bill Swinton with a sigh fell across Ned's
body. In two or three minutes four more men, accompanied by George and
Polly, whose anxiety would not let her stay behind, hurried up. Luke and
his companions had raised Ned and Bill into a sitting posture.

"Are they killed, feyther?" Polly cried as she ran up breathless to
them.

"Noa, lass; oi think as t' maister be only stunned, and Bill ha' fainted
from loss o' blood. But oi doan't know how bad he be hurted yet. We had
best carry 'em back to t' house; we can't see to do nowt here."

"Best let them stay here, feyther, till we can stop the bleeding. Moving
would set the wounds off worse."

"Perhaps you are right, Polly. Jarge, do thou run back to t' house as
hard as thou canst go. Loight t' lanterns and bring 'em along, wi' a can
o' cold water."

Although the boy ran to the village and back at the top of his speed the
time seemed long indeed to those who were waiting. When he returned
they set to work at once to examine the injuries. Ned appeared to have
received but one blow. The blood was slowly welling from a wound at the
back of his head.

"That war maade by a leaded stick, oi guess," Luke said; "it's cut
through his hat, and must pretty nigh ha' cracked his skool. One of you
bathe un wi' the water while we looks