"Then I begged on him to give me some tiding o' my poor bairn. I begged it o' him humbly, just to tell me she weer alive, and well; and to let me know wheer we might send a line to her; for, lads, I've been broken and down like, and ready to do owt to get sight o' her again for her mother's sake, for she's 'bout worn out wi' sorrow. I asked him this." Banks stopped with his face working amidst the most profound silence, while Tom Podmore took his hand, which was heartily pressed, and Big Harry, after rubbing his eyes with his knuckles like a great schoolboy, crossed over, to double up his fists and say-- "Joe Banks, say the word, mun, and I'll go oop t'house, an' crack him like a nut." "You as has bairns wean't think me an owd fool for this," said Banks, huskily. "Yow can feel for me." "Ay, owd lad, we do that," rose in chorus; and then the foreman went on, with his voice gathering strength as he proceeded. "I asked this of him for you, lads, and for mysen, and he turned upon me, cursed me for an owd fool, and ca'ed me the cause o' all his troubles. He swore he did'n' know nor keer where my poor bairn might be, and at last I comed awaya trembling all ower me, to wheer Tom Podmore here waited for me i' street; for," he continued, holding out his hands before him half-crooked, "if I'd ha' stayed, I should ha' throttled him wheer he stood; and for his moother's sake, his dead father's sake, and that o' my poor lost bairn, I should ha' repented it till I died." A low murmur ran through the room, and Sim Slee was about to rise and speak, but several of those present thrust him down, when, with a fierce and lowering countenance, the foreman turned upon him. "Now," he said, "speak out, mun, what are your plans?" "The plan is mine," said Sim; "and we go to work this how. We climb in by the little window in the lane, and then go into the low foundry and put two barrels o' powther theer under the middle wall." Joe Banks nodded. "Then we lay a train away to the leather, and put a slow match which we fires, comes awaya, and horny-handed labour triumps, and the wucks comes down." "Good!" said Banks, nodding his head. "It will destroy them." "That 'll do, wean't it?" continued Slee, eagerly. "Yes, that will do," said Banks, in the midst of silence. "And the powther?" "That is one barrel," said Barker; "the other is at Sim Slee's. Hadn't you better go on, Brother Slee, and make the arrangements?" "Yes, brother sitterzens," said Slee, "there's the powther to place, and the train to lay. What do you say to Thuzday, this day week?" "And when's it to be fired?" said Tom Podmore. "Same time," said Sim; "it's anniversary o' last turn out, and we strikes for freedom. Who comes forward like a horny-handed hero to do the deed?" "Not me," said Big Harry. "I aint going to mak' a Guy Fox o' _my_sen."