Some were even coming out of the Three Nuns, where lights were showing through the lower windows. But all were curiously still. So still I gave a start when a slim form moved by my side, sprung from I know not where, and John Booth's voice whispered: "I knew you by your height, Ben, and the swing of your gait, and Soldier Jack is noan hard to tell by his limp. But here we are by th' Steeple, and here should be our leader." We had not long to wait for George. He singled me out easily enough by my height, for I was a good three inches above any man there. "Well in time, George. That's right, and 'Siah too. Give Martha a buzz fra me, 'Si, when tha' gets back to Holme. What! Soldier Jack! Ah! now we shall make a brave show, an' those Leeds lads will know what it means to have a soldier to smarten us up." And he was here and there and in and among and seemed to have just the right word for every one, and Soldier Jack began at once to busy himself in seeing how each one was armed. 'Siah slunk off towards the Three Nuns, muttering that if he had to die that night he should like to die with t' taste o' honest ale in his mouth. "Come aside with me, Ben," said John, when none was bye to note him. "We've a good half-hour to wait here before we start. There are not above a hundred of us here all told; and we counted on five times that number. The Leeds men will meet us, or should meet us, nigher Rawfolds. But Bradford and Dewsbury have sent a mere handful of those that should have come. George is putting a brave face on, but he's sore vexed all the same." "We've enough for th' job," I said. "If a hundred men cannot force Rawfolds a thousand cannot. We'd do well to start and know our luck." "We must not start before I say my say, Ben. We shall see the ranks forming from here, and I may have no other chance." "Well, John lad, what is it. Tha' looks as if tha'd seen a boggard." The pale light from the moon had fallen full on his face as we stood against the wall of Kirklees Park, a two or three hundred yards away from where the moving mass bulked large about the Steeple. "Don't jest to-night, Ben. I cannot bear it. My heart is heavy with forebodings. I cannot, cannot shake them off, try as I will. This is my last venture, Ben." "Aye and mine by moonlight, John Daylight or nowt, say I." "It is my last, Ben. There will be sharp work at Rawfolds. The mill is well garrisoned, Cartwright is a bold, a resolute man. He will defend his machines at any hazard and at any cost. Still you need not despair. If you can but win your way in, you may overpower him and the men he has with him. But, Ben, have you thought of it? There will be bloodshed. There must be bloodshed. Cartwright will not ask quarter, nor will he give it. My father knows him well. If you break down gate and door, you will find him there, pistol in hand, and he will not scruple to shoot his assailant down."