You stop here, Tompkins, with him, he said quietly, I will go and fetch help. It is a risk, of course, but we cant let him lie here.
So saying, Ned mounted the rock to get a view over the moor. No sooner had he gained the position than he saw some thirty or forty men walking in groups across the moor at a distance of about half a mile. They had evidently finished their drill, and were making their way to their homes. This at least was satisfactory. He would no longer risk their anger by disturbing them at their illegal practices, and had now only to fear the wrath which would be excited when they heard what had happened to the boy.
He started at a brisk run after them, and speedily came up to the last of the party. They were for the most part men between twenty and thirty, rough and strongly built, and armed with billhooks and heavy bludgeons, two or three of them carrying guns.
One of them looked round on hearing footsteps approaching, and gave a sudden exclamation. The rest turned, and on seeing Ned, halted with a look of savage and menacing anger on their faces.
Who beest, boy? dang ee, what brings ye here?
Ned gulped down the emotion of fear excited by their threatening appearance, and replied as calmly as he could: I am sorry to say that I have had a struggle with a boy over by that rock yonder. We fell together, and he has broken his leg. He told me if I came over in this direction I should find some one to help him.
Broaken Bills leg, didst say, ye young varmint? one of the men exclaimed. Oive a good moinde to wring yer neck.
I am very sorry, Ned said; but I did not mean it. I and another boy were walking back to Marsden from fishing, and he wouldnt let us pass; it was too far to go back again, so of course we had to try, and then there was a fight, but it was quite an accident his breaking his leg.
Didst see nowt afore ye had the voight? one of the other men inquired.
No, Ned replied; we saw no one from the time we left the stream till we met the boy who would not let us pass, and I only caught sight of you walking this way from the top of the rock.
If twere a vair voight, John, the boy baint to be blamed, though oi be main grieved about thy brother Bill; but wed best go back for him, voor on us. And moind, youngster, theed best keep a quiet tongue in thy head as to whaat thoust seen here.
I havent seen anything, Ned said; but of course if you wish it I will say nothing about it.
It were best for ee, for if thou gost aboot saying thoust seen men with guns and clubs up here on the moor, it ull be the worsest days work eeve ever done.
I will say nothing about it, Ned replied, but please come on at once, for I am afraid the boy is in terrible pain.
Four of the men accompanied Ned back to the rock.
Hullo, Bill! whats happened ee? his brother asked.
Oive had a fight and hurted myself, and broke my leg; but it want that chaps fault; it were a vair voight, and a right good un he be. Doant do nowt to him.
Well, thats roight enough then, the man said, and you two young uns can go whoam. Marsden lies over that way; thou wilt see it below ye when ye gets to yon rock over there; and moind what I told ee.
I will, Ned said earnestly; but do let me come up to see how he is getting on, I shall be so anxious to know.
The man hesitated, but the lad said, Let um coom, John, he bee a roight good un.
Well, if thou wouldst like it, Bill, he shall coom.
If thou coom oop to Varley and ask vor Bill Swinton, anyone will show ee the place.
Goodby, Ned said to the boy, I am so sorry you have got hurt. I will come and see you as soon as I can.
Then he and Tompkins set off toward the rock the man had pointed out, which by this time, in the fast growing darkness, could scarce be made out. They would indeed probably have missed it, for the distance was fully a mile and a half; but before they had gone many yards one of the four men passed by them on a run on his way down to Marsden to summon the parish doctor, for a moments examination had sufficed to show them that the boys injury was far too serious to treat by themselves.
Tired as the boys were, they set off in his footsteps, and managed to keep him in sight until they reached the spot whence Marsden could be seen, and they could no longer mistake the way.
Now, look here, Tompkins, Ned said as they made their way down the hill; dont you say a word about this affair. You havent got much to boast about in it, sitting there on the grass and doing nothing to help me. I shant say anything more about that if you hold your tongue; but if you blab I will let all the fellows know how you behaved.
But they will all notice my nose directly I get in, Tompkins said. What am I to say?
Yes, theres no fear about their not noticing your nose, Ned replied. I dont want you to tell a lie. You can say the exact truth. We were coming home across the moors; a boy interfered with us, and would not let us pass; we both pitched into him, and at last he got the worst of it, and we came home.
But whats the harm of saying that you and he fell, and he broke his leg?
A great deal of harm, Ned replied. If it was known that a boys leg got broke in a fight with us it would be sure to come to Hathorns ears; then there would be an inquiry and a row. Like enough he would go up to see the boy and inquire all about it. Then the men would suppose that we had broken our words, and the next time you and I go out on a fishing expedition theres no saying what mightnt happen to us. They are a rough lot those moor men, and dont stick at trifles.
I will say nothing about it, Tompkins replied hastily; you may rely on that. What a lucky fellow you are to be going home! Nothing will be said to you for being an hour late. I shall get a licking to a certainty. How I do hate that Hathorn, to be sure!
They now came to the point where the road separated and each hurried on at his best speed.
You are late tonight, Ned, the boys father said when he entered. I dont like your being out after dark. I dont mind how far you go so that you are in by sunset; but, halloo! he broke off, as he caught sight of the boys face as he approached the table at which the rest of the party were sitting at tea; what have you been doing to your face?
Captain Sankey might well be surprised. One of the boys eyes was completely closed by a swelling which covered the whole side of his face. His lip was badly cut, and the effect of that and the swelling was to give his mouth the appearance of being twisted completely on one side.
Oh! theres nothing the matter, Ned replied cheerfully; but I had a fight with a boy on the moor.
It is dreadful!quite dreadful! Mrs. Sankey said; your going on like this. It makes me feel quite faint and ill to look at you. I wonder you dont get killed with your violent ways.
Ned made no reply but took his seat at the table, and fell to work upon the hunches of thick brown bread and butter.
I will tell you about it afterward, father, he said; it really wasnt my fault.
I am sure I dont wish to hear the story of your quarrels and fighting, Edward, Mrs. Sankey said; the sight of you is quite enough to upset my nerves and make me wretched. Of course if your father chooses to support you in such goings on I can say nothing. Neither he nor you seem to remember how trying such things as these are to any one with a broken constitution like mine.