"
"I don't hold much to my life," Ned laughed bitterly, "so the
Luddites won't be able to frighten me there."
"I suppose thou wilt have some of the hands to sleep at the mill,
as they do at some of the other places. If thou wilt get arms those
as is at work will do their best to defend it. Cartwright has got
a dozen or more sleeping in his mill."
"I will see about it," Ned said, "but I don't think I shall do
that. I don't want any men to get killed in defending our property."
"Then they will burn it, thou wilt see if they doan't," Luke said
earnestly.
"I hope not, Luke. I shall do my best to prevent it anyhow."
"Oi will give ee warning if a whisper of it gets to moi ears, you
may be sure, but the young uns doan't say much to us old hands,
who be mostly agin them, and ov course they will say less now if
oi be one of those kept on."
"We must chance it, Luke; but be sure, whatever I do I shan't let
the mill be destroyed if I can help it."
And so on the Monday following the waterwheel was set going and
the new machinery began to work. The number of hands at the mill
was reduced by nearly one half, while the amount of cloth turned
out each week was quadrupled.
The machinery had all the latest improvements, and was excellently
arranged. Mr. Mulready had thoroughly understood his business,
and Ned soon saw that the profits under the new system of working
would be fully as great as his stepfather had calculated.
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