Through the Fray | Page 9

in
thy head as to whaat thou'st seen here."
"I haven't 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 go'st aboot saying thou'st seen men with
guns and clubs up here on the moor, it ull be the worsest day's work
ee've 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! what's happened ee?" his brother asked.
"Oi've had a fight and hurted myself, and broke my leg; but it wa'nt that
chap's fault; it were a vair voight, and a right good 'un he be. Doan't do
nowt to him."

"Well, that's 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 would'st 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 moment's examination had sufficed to
show them that the boy's 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; "don't you say a word about this affair. You haven't got much
to boast about in it, sitting there on the grass and doing nothing to help
me. I shan't 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, there's no fear about their not noticing your nose," Ned replied. "I
don't 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 what's 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 boy's leg
got broke in a fight with us it would be sure to come to Hathorn's 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 there's no saying what mightn't happen to us. They
are a rough lot those moor men, and don't 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 boy's father said when he entered. "I
don't like your being out after dark. I don't mind how far you go so that
you are in by sunset; but, halloo!" he broke off, as he caught sight of
the boy's face as he approached the table at which the rest of the party
were sitting at tea; "what have