"They have had a lesson for once," Mr. Cartwright said as he looked
round, "they won't attack my mill again in a hurry. I need not say,
Sankey, how deeply I am obliged to you for your timely warning.
How did you get to know of it?"
Ned related the story of his being awakened by Mary Powlett. He
added, "I don't think, after all, my warning was of much use to
you. You could have kept them out anyhow."
"I don't think so," Mr. Cartwright said. "I imagine that your
arrival upset all their plans; they were so close behind you that
they must have heard the knocking and the door open and close. The
appearance of lights in the mill and the barking of the dog, would,
at any rate, have told them that we were on the alert, and seeing
that they ran on and opened fire I have no doubt that their plan was
to have stolen quietly up to the windows and commenced an attack
upon these in several places, and had they done this they would
probably have forced an entrance before we could have got together
to resist them. No, my lad, you and that girl have saved the mill
between you."
"You will not mention, Mr. Cartwright, to any one how I learned
the news. The girl's life would not be safe were it known that she
brought me word of the intention of the Luddites."
"You may rely on me for that; and now, if you please, we will go
off home at once and get some breakfast. Amy may have heard of the
attack and will be in a rare fright until she gets news of me.
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