'We have had no money of yours, and we requisition the van. We want to load it in Ely. It will serve our purpose better than a waggon.' 'You shall not have it,' replied Zita. 'Fair trade is fair trade, and he that will not deal honourably I will run through, and leave the button sticking between his shoulders, and that will spoil a good weskit.' The man sprang back as she threatened him with one of the foils. 'I will tell you what it is,' said Zita; 'you will not believe me till I have made an example of one of you.' 'Where is your ten pounds?' asked Pip Beamish, who had descended from the waggon. 'Ay,' said several of those who stood round; 'that is what we should uncommon like to know.' 'Where are my ten pounds?' repeated Zita. 'That is a fine question for you to put to me, when I'll be bound you have them in your pocket.' 'Bring them out, Pip!' called one of the men. 'I have not got her money. I have not touched it,' protested the commander. 'I gave it to Mark Runham along with the master's twenty pounds.' 'The twenty pounds has been put into the Union box—I never touched your ten.' 'Come, come, Pip,' said a cluster of men, 'no shuffling. Mark wouldn't have held back the money. You have had it, sure enough.' 'I have not had one farthing of it.' 'I paid ten pounds to have my van set at liberty. I did not wish to have it sat upon, and the sides kicked, and the varnish scratched. I gave ten pounds to save it from that.' 'What did you get, Beamish?' asked Aaron Chevell. 'I got just twenty pounds and no more—the twenty pounds that Drownlands contributed, and that I put into the box with the rest.' 'And not my ten?' exclaimed Zita. 'That is a falsehood. My ten was with his twenty. Thirty pounds in all, in gold.' 'There has been cheating,' shouted two or three. 'That is what comes of jaw and preaching.' 'Mates,' said Aaron Chevell, 'we must not let this pass. Let us have judge and jury There has been robbery of the common fund. Mates, I vote that we arrest Pip Beamish, and try him at once.' 'Have him up in the cart,' said Tansley. 'Comrades all! light some more straw wisps. There has been a case of roguery. There has been our chief officer taking the money that was contributed to the Union, and pocketing it for his private use. I charge Ephraim Beamish, and vote that he be deposed from his command, and be tried for felony.' 'I second it,' shouted Isaac Harley. 'And what I say is—like enough. He who wants most has taken it. A chap as hasn't a house to call his home, nor an honest employ in which to earn his living.' 'It is not what I calls respectable,' said one man, 'that we should march under such a rascal.' Then ensued a chorus of voices. 'Up into the waggon with him, and try him there.' In vain did Beamish protest that he had not defrauded the Union, that he had received no more than twenty pounds. The rest suspected him, and were jealous of his assumption of authority.