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 be'est, 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 Bill's leg, did'st say, ye young varmint?" one of the men
exclaimed. "Oi've 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 wouldn't 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."
"Did'st 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 bain't to be blamed, though
oi be main grieved about thy brother Bill; but we'd best go back
for him, voor on us.
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