Meanwhile, a catastrophe had wellnigh occurred in another quarter.  With eyes flashing with fury, Nicholas Assheton pushed aside the crowd, and made his way to the bank whereon Master Potts stood.  Not liking his looks, the little attorney would have taken to his heels, but finding escape impossible, he called upon Baggiley to protect him.  But he was instantly in the forcible gripe of the squire, who shouted, “I’ll teach you, mongrel hound, to play tricks with gentlemen.”

“Master Nicholas,” cried the terrified and half-strangled attorney, “my very good sir, I entreat you to let me alone.  This is a breach of the king’s peace, sir.  Assault and battery, under aggravated circumstances, and punishable with ignominious corporal penalties, besides fine and imprisonment, sir.  I take you to witness the assault, Master Baggiley.  I shall bring my ac—­ac—­ah—­o—­o—­oh!”

“Then you shall have something to bring your ac—­ac—­action for, rascal,” cried Nicholas.  And, seizing the attorney by the nape of the neck with one hand, and the hind wings of his doublet with the other, he cast him to a considerable distance into the river, where he fell with a tremendous splash.

“He is no wizard, at all events,” laughed Nicholas, as Potts went down like a lump of lead.

But the attorney was not born to be drowned; at least, at this period of his career.  On rising to the surface, a few seconds after his immersion, he roared lustily for help, but would infallibly have been carried over the weir, if Jem Device had not flung him the rope now disengaged from Nance Redferne, and which he succeeded in catching.  In this way he was dragged out; and as he crept up the bank, with the wet pouring from his apparel, which now clung tightly to his lathy limbs, he was greeted by the jeers of Nicholas.

“How like you the water-ordeal—­eh, Master Attorney?  No occasion for a second trial, I think.  If Jem Device had known his own interest, he would have left you to fatten the Calder eels; but he will find it out in time.”

“You will find it out too, Master Nicholas,” rejoined Potts, clapping on his wet cap.  “Take me to the Dragon quickly, good fellow,” he added, to Jem Device, “and I will recompense thee for thy pains, as well as for the service thou hast just rendered me.  I shall have rheumatism in my joints, pains in my loins, and rheum in my head, oh dear—­oh dear!”

“In which case you will not be able to pay Mother Demdike your purposed visit to-morrow,” jeered Nicholas.  “You forgot you were to arrest her, and bring her before a magistrate.”

“Thy arm, good fellow, thy arm!” said Potts, to Jem Device.

“To the fiend wi’ thee,” cried Jem, shaking him off roughly.  “The squoire is reet.  Wouldee had let thee drown.”

“What, have you changed your mind already, Jem?” cried Nicholas, in a taunting tone.  “You’ll have your grandmother’s thanks for the service you’ve rendered her, lad—­ha! ha!”