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 they have done this deed. If you get new machines, or if you otherwise go on as you have done, you shall hear from us again. Beware!”

“Hear from you again? Yes; I’ll hear from you again, and you shall hear from me; I’ll speak to you directly; on Stilbro’ Moor you shall hear from me in a moment.”

Having led the waggons within the gates, he hastened towards the cottage. Opening the door, he spoke a few words quickly but quietly to two females who ran to meet him in the passage. He calmed the seeming alarm of one by a brief palliative account of what had taken place; to the other he said, “Go into the mill, Sarah—there is the key—and ring the mill-bell as loud as you can: afterwards you will get another lantern and help me to light up the front.”

Returning to his horses, he unharnessed, fed, and stabled them with equal speed and care, pausing occasionally, while so occupied, as if to listen for the mill-bell. It clanged out presently with irregular but loud and alarming din; the hurried agitated peal seemed more urgent than if the summons had been steadily given by a practised hand. On that still night, at that unusual hour, it was heard a long way round; the guests in the kitchen of the Redhouse were startled by the clangour; and declaring that “there must be summat more nor common to do at Hollow’s-miln,” they called for lanterns, and hurried to the spot in a body. And scarcely had they