My lads, how many of you will remain here, and how many will go a little way with me and Mr. Moore on the Stilbro’-road, to meet some men who have been waylaid and assaulted by frame-breakers?”

The small number of three volunteered to go; the rest preferred staying behind. As Mr. Moore mounted his horse, the rector asked him in a low voice, whether he had locked up the mutton-chops, so that Peter Augustus could not get at them? The manufacturer nodded an affirmative, and the rescue-party set out