By and by he found himself at Eastwood’s side again. “Tell me quick what you think?” he commanded. The flockmaster did not look at him. “A chaise went up the Fullergate the night afore last, past midnight.” “What of that?” “Only two things you can tak’ your pick of----” “Christ!----” “One, a neighbourly call on John Raikes i’ York, and t’other a signed deposition afore Parker i’ Ford. Cope’s got hold of him, that’s all.... What made ye lay hands on him?” Monjoy groaned. “Never mind that, never mind that--where’s Cope?” “I’ th’ bog yonder watching us, for all I know. I hadn’t time to ask Matthew any more; he packed me off to ye all in a minute and bade me run. And th’ new trial’s in a week, Emmason says.” “Yes, yes,” Monjoy repeated stupidly. “I wonder, James,” he said brokenly, by and by--“nay, look up at me, James--is it money, or hatred of myself he’s sold us for, sold Northrop and Haigh and all of us?” “Nay, don’t tak’ on that road, Arthur; all isn’t over yet. Juries has stopped ... anyway, a daft man can’t gi’e evidence; no, not a daft man----” “No, not a daft man,” Monjoy repeated dully. Mechanically he was rolling down his sleeves and fastening the buttons at the wrists. “Come, stiffen yourself up; nothing’s happened yet. Hark! they’re calling ye; come, I’ll go back wi’ ye----” They returned slowly towards the furnaces. The Slack was now a pandemonium. Naked bodies were lightly striped with rivulets of sweat and grime, and a powerful smell of cooking and burning filled the night. The furnaces flamed with the yellow flare of blazing fat, and spat and roared with a tremendous hollow sound. A man, driving in the bung of another cask, struck awry, and the liquor shot forth in a spout, covering the men and spirting like a catherine-wheel when a hand was clapped over the hole; and they stood with their mouths open and received the torrent of strong liquor full in their faces. Underneath the furnaces was an incandescence of pink and white wood-ash, and men took embers in their hands and tossed them on the naked backs of their fellows. As Monjoy and Eastwood approached, there came a fresh uproar and a new diversion.