But I was young and active, my brain and eye were clear, and I was as hard as pin-wire, whilst Tom had been keeping up the Wakes to some tune, and, though the drink had fired his blood, it served neither to steady his arms nor his legs. So I held my own fairly well, though I was conscious that my lips were beginning to swell and an eye to close up; and I think, maybe, I should have come off a little more than conqueror, as my father would have said, had not the old man, despite the protestations of the crowd which cried shame on him, joined in the fray and fetched me a sounding blow on the jowl that made the world spin round me. I almost lost consciousness, and beat my arms feebly in some sort of show of attack, and then became aware in a mazed sort of way that the tide of war had changed. For there was Jim, good old Jim, bristling and growling like a mighty mastiff, by my side. He had dealt Tom a blow that must have been like the kick of a stallion, and just as my senses cleared I saw him pick up the shrieking, cursing Bill o' Jack's, raise him high above his head, and hurl him a dozen yards or more into the midst of the cheering crowd. Tom o' Bill's lay on one elbow on the ground his nose streaming, and spitting out his front teeth. "Do yo' want any more? There's plenty wheer that came fro'," quoth Jim to Tom. But Tom picked himself and, muttering "Yo'st both on yo' pay for this," limped off crest fallen. "And nah, lad, we'st best be going whom. I'm spent up an' awve fuffen[1], an' if that doesn't mak' a gooid Wakes aw dunnot know what does. But what about these wenches here? Dost know 'em?" [1] fought Now I thought I did. I turned to the younger of the two. "Aren't you Burnplatters?" I asked. She cast down her head, and a hot flush suffused her face. "Yes, no, that is my grandmother…." "I thought I'd seen the old lady our way," I explained. "Well, if I may make so free, you'd better be making your way toward Slaithwaite, for yon two are ugly customers, and it is best you kept out of their way. So, by your leave, Jim and I will set you on your road." "Oh, please, don't trouble. Granddam and I are used to taking care of ourselves. And oh! how can I thank you?" "Thank Jim," I said. "Come along, if you don't mind. It's a tidy step over Stanedge, and the night draws in betimes these days." So without more ado I took charge of the maiden, whose fluttering hand rested confidingly on my arm. Jim followed me with the elder woman as we made our way through the crowd. "Tha's getten a sweetheart at last," I heard a young mill lass cry to Jim. "An' a beauty oo is to be sure. Yo'll noan be feart o' her layin' away, that's one comfort." Jim disdained retort, and as we drew away from the Wakes, and the twain plodded steadily in our rear, I heard him more than once suggest to the poor old woman that they'd get on faster if he carried her on his back.