"I can't go," said Uncle Jack.
"And I'm busy," said Uncle Bob.
"Then I shall have to put up with Cob," said Uncle Dick gloomily. "Will
you come, my lad?"
"Will I come!" I cried, jumping and feeling as if I should like to
shout for joy, so delightful seemed the idea of getting away into the
hills, and having one of our old walks.
"Well, it must be at mid-day, and you will have to meet me out at
Ranflitt."
"Two miles on the road?" I said.
"Yes; you be there, and if I'm not waiting I sha'n't be long, and we'll
go on together."
"What time shall I start?" I asked.
"When the men go to their dinner will do. I have some business at the
far end of the town, and it will not be worth while for me to come back.
I'll take the other road."
So it was settled, and I took my big stick down to the office, and a net
satchel that was handy for anything when slung from the right shoulder
and under my left arm. Before now it had carried fish, partridges,
fruits, herbs, roots of plants, and oftener than anything else, lunch.
That seemed to be a long morning, although I wrote hard all the time so
as to get a good day's work over first; but at last the dinner-bell
rang, and, saying good-bye to the others, I slipped the satchel into my
pocket, took my stick, and started.
We had not thought of those who would be loitering about during their
dinner-hour, but I soon found that they were thinking of me, for not
only were our own men about the streets, but the men of the many other
works around; and to my dismay I soon found that they all knew me by
sight, and that they were ready to take notice of me in a very
unpleasant way.
I was walking steadily on when a stone hit me in the leg, and instead of
making haste and getting out of range, I stopped short and looked round
angrily for my assailant.
I could see a dozen grinning faces, but it was of course impossible to
tell who threw, and before I turned back an oyster-shell struck me in
the back.
I turned round angrily and found myself the object of a tremendous shout
of laughter.
Almost at the same moment I was struck by an old cabbage-stump and by a
potato, while stones in plenty flew by my head.
"The cowards!" I said to myself as I strode on, looking to right and
left, and seeing that on both sides of the way a number of rough boys
were collecting, encouraged by the laughter and cheers of their elders.
We had not a single boy at our works, but I could see several of our men
were joining in the sport, to them, of having me hunted.
To have a good hunt, though, it is necessary to have a good quarry, that
is to say, the object hunted must be something that will run.
Now, in imagination I saw myself rushing away pursued by a mob of lads,
hooting, yelling, and pelting me; but I felt not the slightest
inclination to be hunted in this fashion, and hence it was that I walked
steadily and watchfully on, stick in hand, and prepared to use it too,
if the necessity arose.
Unfortunately I was in a road where missiles were plentiful, and these
came flying about me, one every now and then giving me such a stinging
blow that I winced with pain. The boys danced round me, too, coming
nearer as they grew bolder from my non-resistance, and before long they
began to make rushes, hooting and yelling to startle me, no doubt, into
running away.
But so far they did not succeed; and as I continued my walking they
changed their tactics, keeping out of reach of my stout stick, and
taking to stones and anything that came to hand.
I could do nothing. To have turned round would only have been to
receive the objects thrown in my face; and when at last, stung into
action by a harder blow than usual, I did turn and make a rush at the
boy I believed to have thrown, he gave way and the others opened out to
let me pass, and then closed up and followed.
It was a foolish movement on my part, and I found I had lost ground, for
to get on my way again I had to pass through a body of about a dozen
lads, and the only way to do this as they gathered themselves ready to
receive me, was by making a bold rush through them.
They were already whispering together, and one of them cried "Now!" when
I made a rush at them, stick in hand, running as fast as I could.
They made a show of stopping me, but opened out directly, and as soon as
I had passed yelled to their companions to come on, with the result that
I found I could not stop unless I stood at bay, and that I was doing the
very thing I had determined not to do--racing away from my pursuers,
who, in a pack of about forty, were yelling, crying, and in full chase.
To stop now was impossible: all that was open to me was to run hard and
get into the more open suburb, leaving them behind, while I had the
satisfaction of knowing that before long the bells at the different
works would be ringing, and the young vagabonds obliged to hurry back to
their places, leaving me free to maintain my course.
So that, now I was involuntarily started, I determined to leave my
pursuers behind, and I ran.
I don't think I ever ran so fast before, but fast as I ran I soon found
that several of the lightly clothed old-looking lads were more than my
equals, and they kept so close that some half a dozen were ready to rush
in on me at any moment and seize me and drag me back.
I was determined, though, that they should not do that, and, grasping my
stick, I ran on, more blindly, though, each moment. 'Tis true, I
thought of making for the outskirts and tiring the boys out; but to my
dismay I found that fresh lads kept joining in the chase, all eager and
delighted to have something to run down and buffet, while my breath was
coming thickly, my heart beat faster and faster, and there was a
terrible burning sensation in my chest.
I looked to right for some means of escape, but there was none; to left
was the same; behind me the tolling pack; while before me stretched the
lanes, and mill after mill with great dams beyond them similar to ours.
I should have stopped at bay, hoping by facing the lads to keep them
off; but I was streaming with perspiration, and so weak that I knew, in
spite of my excitement, that I should hardly be able to lift my arm.
On and on, more and more blindly, feeling moment by moment as if my
aching legs would give way beneath me. I gazed wildly at my pursuers to
ask for a little mercy, but unfortunately for me they, excited and hot
with their chase, were as cruel as boys can be, and men too at such a
time.
There was nothing for it but to rush on at a pace that was fast
degenerating into a staggering trot, and in imagination, as the boys
pushed me and buffeted me with their caps, I saw myself tripped up,
thrown down, kicked, and rolled in the dust, and so much exhausted that
I could not help myself.
One chance gave me a little more energy. It must be nearly time for the
bells to ring, and then they would be bound to give up the pursuit; but
as I struggled I caught sight of a clock, and saw that it wanted a
quarter of an hour yet.
There were some men lounging against a wall, and I cried out to them,
but they hardly turned their heads, and as I was hurried and driven by I
saw that they only laughed as if this were excellent sport.
Next we passed a couple of well-dressed ladies, but they fled into a
gateway to avoid my pursuers, and the next minute I was hustled round a
corner, the centre of the whooping, laughing crowd, and, to my horror, I
found that we were in a narrow path with a row of stone cottages on one
side, the wall of a dam like our own, and only a few inches above the
water on the other.
I had felt dazed and confused before. Now I saw my danger clearly
enough and the object of the lads.
I was streaming with perspiration, and so weak that I could hardly
stand, but, to avoid being thrust in, and perhaps held under water and
ducked and buffeted over and over again, I felt that I must make a
plunge and try and swim to the other side.
But I dared not attempt it, even if I could have got clear; and blindly
struggling on I had about reached the middle of the dam path when a foot
was thrust out, and I fell.
Sobbing for my breath, beaten with fists, buffeted and blinded with the
blows of the young savages' caps, I struggled to my feet once more, but
only to be tripped and to fall again on the rough stony path.
I could do no more. I had no strength to move, but I could think
acutely, and feel, as I longed for the strength of Uncle Jack, and to
hold in my hand a good stout but limber cane.
Yes, I could feel plainly enough the young ruffians dragging at me, and
in their eagerness and number fighting one against the other.
"In wi' him!"
"Dook him, lads!"
"Now, then, all together!"
I heard all these cries mingled together, and mixed up with the busy
hands and faces, I seemed to see the row of houses, the clear sky, the
waters of the dam, and Gentles the grinder leaning against a door and
looking on.
I was being lifted amidst shouts and laughter, and I knew that the next
moment I should be in the dam, when there was a tremendous splash, and
some drops of water sprinkled my face.
Then there was the rattle of the handle of a bucket, and another splash
heard above all the yelling and shouting of the boys. There was the
hollow sound of a pail banged against something hard, and mingled with
cries, shouts, laughter, and ejaculations of pain I felt myself fall
upon the path, to be kicked and trampled on by someone contending, for
there were slaps, and thuds, and blows, the panting and hissing of
breath; and then the clanging of bells near and bells far, buzzing in
ears, the rush and scuffling of feet, with shouts of derision, defiance,
and laughter, and then, last of all, a curious cloud of mist seemed to
close me in like the fog on the Dome Tor, and out of this a shrill angry
voice cried:
"Ah, ye may shout, but some on ye got it. Go and dry yourselves at the
furnace, you cowardly young shacks. Hey, bud I wish I'd hed holt o' yon
stick!"
"Yon stick!" I felt must be mine; but my head was aching, and I seemed
to go to sleep.
"I wish you'd be quiet," I remember saying. "Let me be."
"Fetch some more watter, mester," said a pleasant voice, and a rough
hand was laid upon my forehead, but only to be taken away again, and
that which had vexed and irritated we went on again, and in a dreamy way
I knew it was a sponge that was being passed over my face.
"I fetched Mester Tom one wi' bottom o' the boocket, and I got one kick
at Tom, and when the two boys come home to-night they'll get such a
leathering as they never hed before."
"Nay, let 'em be," said a familiar voice.
"Let 'em be! D'ye think I'm going to hev my bairns grow up such shacks?
Nay, that I wean't, so yo' may like it or no. I'd be shamed o' my sen
to stand by and let that pack o' boys half kill the young gentleman like
that."
"I warn't going to stop 'em."
"Not you, mester. Yow'd sooner set 'em on, like you do your mates, and
nice things come on it wi' your strikes and powder, and your wife and
bairns wi' empty cupboard. Yow on'y let me know o' next meeting, and if
I don't come and give the men a bit o' my mind, my name arn't Jane
Gentles."
"Yow'd best keep thy tongue still."
"Mebbe you think so, my man, but I don't."
My senses had come back, and I was staring about at the clean kitchen I
was in, with carefully blackleaded grate and red-brick floor. Against
the open door, looking out upon the dam, and smoking his pipe, stood--
there was no mistaking him--our late man, Gentles; while over me with a
sponge in her hand, and a basin of water by her on a chair, was a big
broad-shouldered woman with great bare arms and a pleasant homely face,
whose dark hair was neatly kept and streaked with grey.
She saw that I was coming to, and smiled down at me, showing a set of
very white teeth, and her plump face looked motherly and pleasant as she
bent down and laid her hand upon my forehead.
"That's bonny," she said, nodding her head at me. "You lie still a bit
and I'll mak you a cup o' tea, and yo'll be aw reight again. I'm glad I
caught 'em at it. Some on 'em's going to hev sore bones for that job,
and so I tell 'em."
I took her hand and held it in mine, feeling very weak and dreamy still,
and I saw Gentles shift round and give me a hasty glance, and then twist
himself more round with his back to me.
"Howd up a minute," she said, passing one strong arm under me and
lifting me as if I had been a baby; and almost before I had realised it
she slipped off my jacket and placed a cushion beneath my head.
"There, now, lie still," she said, dabbing my wet hair with a towel.
"Go to sleep if you can."
By this time she was at the other end of the common print-covered couch
on which I lay and unlacing my boots, which she drew off.
"There, now thou'lt be easy, my lad. What would thy poor moother say if
she saw thee this how?"
I wanted to thank her, but I was too dreamy and exhausted to speak; but
I had a strange feeling of dread, and that was, that if I were left
alone with Gentles he would, out of revenge, lay hold of me and throw me
into the dam, and to strengthen my fancy I saw him keep turning his head
in a furtive way to glance at me.
"Here," exclaimed the woman sharply, "take these here boots out to the
back, mester, and clean 'em while I brush his coat."
"Eh?" said Gentles.
"Tak them boots out and brush 'em. Are yo' deaf?"
"Nay, I'm not going to clean his boots," growled Gentles.
"Not going to clean the bairn's boots!" said the woman sharply; "but I
think thou art."
She left me, went to the door, took Gentles' pipe from his mouth, and
then thrust the boots under his arm, laying a great hand upon his
shoulder directly after, and seeming to lead him to a door behind me,
through which she pushed him, with an order to make haste.
"Yes," she said, tightening her lips, and smiling, as she nodded to me,
"I'm mester here, and they hev to mind. Was it thou as set the big trap
ketched my mester by the leg?"
I never felt more taken aback in my life; but I spoke out boldly, and
said that it was I.
"And sarve him right. Be a lesson to him. Mixing himself up wi' such
business. I towd him if he crep into people's places o' neets, when he
owt to hev been fast asleep i' bed wi' his wife and bairns, he must
reckon on being ketched like a rat. I'd like to knock some o' their
heads together, I would. They're allus feitin' agen the mesters, and
generally for nowt, and it's ooz as has to suffer."
Mrs Gentles had told me to try and sleep, and she meant well; but there
were two things which, had I been so disposed, would thoroughly have
prevented it, and they were the dread of Gentles doing something to be
revenged upon me, and his wife's tongue.
For she went on chattering away to me in the most confidential manner,
busying herself all the time in brushing my dusty jacket on a very white
three-legged table, after giving the cloth a preliminary beating
outside.
"There," she said, hanging it on a chair; "by and by you shall get up
and brush your hair, and I'll give you a brush down, and then with clean
boots you will not be so very much the worse."
She then sat down to some needlework, stitching away busily, and giving
me all sorts of information about her family--how she had two boys out
at work at Bandy's, taking it for granted that I knew who Bandy's were;
that she had her eldest girl in service, and the next helping her aunt
Betsey, and the other four were at school.
All of which was, no doubt, very interesting to her; but the only part
that took my attention was about her two boys, who had, I knew, from
what I overheard, been in the pack that had so cruelly hunted me down.
And all this while I could hear the slow _brush, brush_ at my boots,
evidently outside the back-door, and I half expected to have them
brought back ripped, or with something sharp inside to injure me when I
put them on.
At last, after Mrs Gentles had made several allusions to how long "the
mester" was "wi' they boots," he came in, limping slightly, and after
closing the door dropped them on the brick floor.
"Why, Sam!" exclaimed Mrs Gentles, "I'd be ashamed o' mysen--that I
would!"
But Gentles did not seem to be in the slightest degree ashamed of
himself, but took his pipe from the shelf, where his wife had laid it,
struck a match, relit it, and went off with his hands in his pockets.
Mrs Gentles rose and followed him to the door, and then returned, with
her lips tightened and an angry look in her face.
"Now he's gone off to booblic," she said angrily, "to hatch up and mess
about and contrive all sorts o' mischief wi' them as leads him on. Oh
the times I've telled him as they might make up all the differ by
spending the time in work that they do in striking again' a sixpence
took off or to get one putt on! Ay, but we missuses have but a sorry
time!"
The absence of Gentles' furtive look sent back at me from the door
seemed to change the effect of his wife's voice, which by degrees grew
soothing and soft, and soon after I dropped off asleep, and dreamed of a
curious clinking going on, from which dream I awoke, with my head
cooler, and Mrs Gentles bending over me and fanning my face with what
looked like an old copy-book.