Part 31 (1/2)

They looked at one another thoughtfully, nodded, and Uncle Bob handed me the note; and a precious composition it was.

”_You London c.o.c.kneys_,” it began, ”_you've had plenty warnings 'bout your gimcracks and contraps.h.i.+ons, and wouldn't take 'em. Now look here, we won't hev 'em in Arrowfield, robbing hard-workin' men of toil of their hard earns and takin' bread out o' wife and childers mouths and starvin' families, so look out. If you three an' that sorcy boy don't pack up your traps and be off, we'll come and pack 'em up for you. So now you know_.”

”What does this mean?” I said, looking from one to the other.

”It means war, my lad,” said Uncle d.i.c.k fiercely.

”You will not take any notice of this insolent letter?” I said.

”Oh yes, but we will!” said Uncle Jack.

”Not give up and go like cowards?”

”I don't think we shall, Cob,” said Uncle Jack laughing. ”No; we're in the right and they are in the wrong. We've got a strong tower to fight in and defend ourselves; they've got to attack us here, and I think they'll be rather badly off if they do try anything more serious.”

”This has been bad enough,” said Uncle Bob. ”You did not fully understand how narrow an escape Cob had.”

And he related all.

”The scoundrels!” said Uncle Jack, grinding his teeth. ”And now this means threatenings of future attacks.”

”Well,” said Uncle d.i.c.k, ”if they do come I'm afraid someone will be very much hurt--more so than that man Stevens you knocked down.”

”And made a fresh enemy for us,” said Uncle Jack, laughing.

”And showed who was a friend,” I said, remembering Pannell's action.

”To be sure,” said Uncle Jack. ”Well, if anyone is hurt it will be the attacking party, for I am beginning to feel vicious.”

”Well, what about the wheels?” said Uncle Bob. ”Every band has gone, and it will be a heavy expense to restore them.”

”Let's go and have breakfast and think it over,” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”It's bad to decide in haste. Listen! What are the men doing?”

”Going out in the yard, evidently,” said Uncle Bob. ”Yes, and down to the gate.”

So it proved, for five minutes later the place was completely empty.

”Why, they've forsaken us,” said Uncle d.i.c.k bitterly.

”Never mind,” said Uncle Bob. ”Let's have our breakfast. We can lock up the place.”

And this we did, taking poor old Piter with us, who looked so helpless and miserable that several dogs attacked him on our way home, antic.i.p.ating an easy victory.

But they did Piter good, rousing him up to give a bite here and another there--one bite being all his enemies cared to receive before rus.h.i.+ng off, yelping apologies for the mistake they had made in attacking the sickly-looking heavy-eyed gentleman of their kind.

Piter had jaws like a steel trap, as others beside dogs found before long.

When we went back to the works the gate-keeper left in charge said that several of the men had been back, but had gone again, it having been settled that no more work was to be done till the wheel-bands were restored; so the fires were going out, and the smiths, who could have gone on, had to leave their forges.

”Well,” said Uncle d.i.c.k, laughing bitterly, as he gave his beard a sharp tug, ”I thought that we were masters here.”