“Then do it without him.”

Cole shook his head, and said he daren’t.  But, after some reflection, he said there was a mate of his who was not so dependent on Grotait:  he might be tempted perhaps to do something on his own hook, Little being wrong with the trade, and threatened.  “How much would you stand?”

“How far would your friend go?”

“I’ll ask him.”

Next day Cole walked coolly into the factory at dinner-time and had a conversation with Hill, one of the workmen, who he knew was acting for the Union, and a traitor in his employers’ camp.  He made Hill a proposal.  Hill said it was a very serious thing; he would think of it, and meet him at a certain safe place and tell him.

Cole strolled out of the works, but not unobserved.  Jael Dence had made it her business to know every man in the factory by sight, and observing, from a window, a stranger in conversation with Hill, she came down and met Cole at the gate.  She started at sight of him:  he did not exactly recognize her; but, seeing danger in her eye, took to his heels, and ran for it like a deer:  but Jael called to some of the men to follow him, but nobody moved.  They guessed it was a Union matter.  Jael ran to Little, and told him that villain, who had escaped from Raby Hall, had been in the works colloguing with one of the men.

Ransome was sent for, and Cole described to him.

As for Hill, Jael watched him like a cat from that hour, since a man is known by his friends.  She went so far as to follow him home every evening.

Cole got fifty pounds out of Coventry for Hill, and promised him twenty.  For this sum Hill agreed to do Little.  But he demanded some time to become proficient in the weapon he meant to use.

During the interval events were not idle.  A policeman saw a cutter and a disguised gentleman talking together, and told Ransome.  He set spies to discover, if possible, what that might mean.

One day the obnoxious machines were stopped by an accident to the machinery, and Little told Jael this, and said, “Have you a mind to earn five pound a week?”

“Ay, if I could do it honestly?”

“Let us see the arm that flung Phil Davis down-stairs.”

Jael colored a little, but bared her left arm at command.

“Good heavens!” cried Little.  “What a limb!  Why mine is a shrimp compared with it.”

“Ay, mine has the bulk, but yours the pith.”

“Oh, come; if your left arm did that, what must your right be?”

“Oh,” said Jael, “you men do every thing with your right hand; but we lasses know no odds.  My left is as strong as my right, and both at your service.”

“Then come along with me.”

He took her into the “Experiment Room,” explained the machine to her, gave her a lesson or two; and so simple was the business that she soon mastered her part of it; and Little with his coat off, and Jael, with her noble arms bare, ground long saws together secretly; and Little, with Bolt’s consent, charged the firm by the gross.  He received twenty-four pounds per week, out of which he paid Jael six, in spite of her “How can a lass’s work be worth all that?” and similar remonstrances.