iences of sympathisers, the entire population
being on their side, as a matter of fact.

'Foreigners in Ousebank! We've never had such a thing before, and we
don't want it now,' they all agreed. As for the younger men, they held
meetings too; but their meetings were held within closed doors, and what
was said at them was not divulged.

'They're brewing mischief they young uns, sir,' said Luke Mickleroyd to
Mr Howroyd when he came in for a few minutes before he took his watch for
the night.

'I'm afraid they are. We must only pray and trust that they may not carry
it out,' replied Mr Howroyd.

'Ay, sir, that's all we can do. I shall keep a sharper lookout to-night
than I've ever done, and, please God, they'll be kept from doing harm to
others and bringing sorrow on themselves,' said the good and pious old
watchman.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OUTWITTED.

All that night Sarah lay and tossed and turned, or fell into fitful
slumbers, in which she had hideous dreams of the mills being burnt down,
and her father with them. After a very vivid one, in which she saw the
mill-owner standing, a tall, burly figure, on the top of one of the
chimneys, with flames all round him which in a minute must devour him,
she woke with a muffled cry, to find Naomi standing beside her with a
frightened face.

'What has happened, Naomi? Tell me the worst at once,' cried Sarah.

'There's nought to tell, good or bad, so far as I know. But are you ill,
Miss Sarah?' inquired the maid.

'No; I'm quite well. But the mills, and my father--are you sure
that--that he's alive and well?' asked Sarah.

'So far as I know he is, and so are the mills; but no one has seen the
master since yesterday, for he never came home last night. He sent to say
he should stop in the mills all night,' said Naomi.

'Naomi, I must get up. Quick, get me some hot water,' cried Sarah,
jumping up as she spoke.

'It's only six o'clock, miss. I shouldn't have come in and wakened you,
only I thought I heard you call. You'd best go to sleep again; you're
upset with all these doings, and no wonder.'

'I can't sleep, and I want to go to the mills,' declared Sarah.

But Naomi exclaimed in alarm, 'Impossible, miss! Don't you think of doing
such a thing! Mr Howroyd won't hear of it, I know. Besides'--here Naomi
paused, and added in a rather embarrassed manner, 'you can't, Miss
Sarah.'

'I can't go to the mills--our own mills, Naomi? What do you mean? You are
hiding someth