the upper end of the road and on an elevation on a level with the present dam, a cannon was planted behind a wall pierced with openings three feet ten inches wide. Through these apertures the cannon could be pointed so as to command the entire frontage of the mill and be fired upon an approaching enemy. This somewhat primitive battery still exists, but the artillery has been removed long since. The apertures just referred to have been walled up, but their outlines are still plainly to be traced. In addition to these means of defence the workmen employed at the mills were armed and kept watch and ward during the night as at Cartwright's, In the noble defence of Rawfolds mill Mr. Horsfall had taken the warmest interest. He congratulated his friend on his pluck and determination at their first meeting at Huddersfield after the event, and loudly expressed with great heat his own determination to defend to the utmost his machines, if it should prove necessary. Not content with this loud avowal of his resolution, Horsfall did his best to infuse some of his own daring spirit into the people with whom he came in contact. Mr. Woodcock, late of the Marsh Iron Works, near Cleckheaton, states that his grandfather, Mr. Jonathan Brook, of Longroyd, was a manufacturer of cropping machines, and that about this time he received a letter, signed Captain Blunderbuss," stating that "if he made any more such machines, Ned Ludd would fire his premises and lay his body in ashes." On receipt of this Mr. Brook decided to abandon the trade and to issue hand-bills announcing it. On going to the printing office he was met by a cropper (the family always thought it was George Mellor) to whom Mr. Brook stated his errand, when the cropper said, If you assure me this is true you need go no further." The resolution of Mr. Brook and the conversation related above became known in Huddersfield in a few days. Mr. Horsfall called at the foundry soon after, when Mr. Brook, on meeting him, held out his hand as usual. "No," said Mr. Horsfall, drawing back, "I understand you dare not make any more clothdressing machines. I won't shake hands with a coward."

From what we have stated our readers will be able to realise clearly the sort of man Mr. Horsfall was, and will easily compre hend how he came to be so feared and hated by the Luddite fraternity. Up to the time of the attack on Cartwright's mill the star of the frame breakers appears to have been in the ascendant. Everywhere they were feared and dreaded, and by their rapid movements and daring actions they struck terror into every heart, but now the spell was broken. Cartwright, with his small garrison, had defeated them utterly, and now under the remonstrances and inspiriting advice of Mr. Horsfall the masters were beginning to talk of organised resistance to the rioters and were showing a bolder front to the enemy.

The Luddite leaders were fully alive to the fact that their movement had received a serious check, and that something must be done to restore its lost prestige and to teach the masters a salutary lesson. The mysterious messenger of the Luddites had been flit

ting about pretty frequently since the affray at Cartwright's mill, and a number of meetings had been held, but the activity of the authorities had frightened the timid, and the musters were not large. Besides this, the perils from which so many were hardly sure they had escaped daunted their hearts, and their talk was of a more cautious sort than of old. Mellor was getting tired of all this doubt and uncertainty and resolved upon a blow which should strike terror into the hearts of his enemies, The failure of the attack on Cartwright's mill and the loss of his friend Booth had almost driven him frantic, and he raved at the Luddite meetings like one possessed. These violent outbursts had only the effect of scaring effectually the more timid, who knowing their movements were watched, were afraid lest Mellor's rash language and rash proceedings would place all their lives in jeopardy.

In our next chapter we must again introduce our readers into the councils of the Luddite leaders.

We have said that if there existed a particle of feeling in the dark, flinty heart of George Mellor. it was certainly monopolised by his dead friend Booth. After the decease of that poor misguided young man he seemed altogether to lose his balance. He grew perceptibly day by day more bitter against the masters who had adopted the new machinery, and his subtle brain was always planning and scheming for their injury or destruction. Naturally gloomy and reserved in disposition and given to fits of violent passion, he grew more gloomy and desperate still. Booth had exercised a restraining and beneficent influence over him, and now he was dead, Mellor's whole thoughts appeared to be engrossed with what he deemed the wrongs of his class, and the whole subject of his conversation with his fellow workmen was how to avenge them. His outward appearance was a true index to the fierce and tumultuous passions that reigned within his soul. He had grown careless, and slovenly of late, his cheeks had become pale, his brow careworn, and his lurid, bloodshot eyes were now habitually fixed upon the ground. The man was sinking, gradually perhaps, but surely; the hot insatiate craving for revenge which filled his bosom seemed to shrivel him body and soul.

It is the afternoon of Tuesday, the 28th of April, 1812, seventeen days after the attack on Cartwright's mill, and the scene is John Wood's workshop. Mellor, who had been exceedingly violent in his language in talking to his fellow workmen during the dinner hour, has been continuing his invectives in conversation with his companion Smith during the labours in the afternoon, when so excited did he become that he eventually worked himself into a positive phrenzy, and, as his manner was when strongly

moved, paced backwards and forwards in the room with rapid and uneven strides, stopping now and then to give vent to his feelings in threats and curses. Some of the men have been repeating to him Mr. Horsfall's latest words of contempt and defiance of the Luddites. They are keen and biting like most utterances from that quarter, and, as might be expected, their effect on Mellor is great. All his pent up evil passions are let loose, and he positively roars with fury. By and by he becomes quieter and gradually sinks into one of his moody fits. His busy brain is at work and he soon after propounds a dreadful scheme of revenge on the daring manufacturer, in which he allots his fellow workman a part. Smith stands aghast at first, but frightened by the vehemence of Mellor, consents in the end to stand by him and aid him in the execution of his foul plot. Having secured the adherence of Smith, Mellor next went into the adjoining room, where he found Benjamin Walker, William Hall, of Liversedge, William Walker, and Walker's father, all Wood's workmen, and William Thorpe, who worked at Fisher's shop, across the way.

'Now lads," said Mellor, abruptly, "I've made up my mind. We must give up this frame breaking-it's no use. Since that cursed attack on Cartwright's place we've just been jeered and laughed at. Horsfall is crowing louder than ever, as you all know, and unless you're prepared to make an example of him we may just as well shut up. Now, lads, there's only one way. Smith and I have settled it. We're going to shoot Horsfall to-day, and we want thee, Thorpe, and thee, Walker," (nodding his head towards the two men) "to help us. Two could not hit Cartwright the other day, let's see if four can down Horsfall."

For a moment there was no reply to this atrocious proposal; the harsh voice of Thorpe, however, soon broke the silence.

"I'll make one, George," he said, in his usual low, sullen tone; "it's true, as thou says, we are only jeered and laughed at now. It's about time we let some of them see that the Ludds are not a pack of scared old women."

Now, then," said Mellor, turning to Walker, “thou must make up thy mind, Ben, whilst I am away at my drinking.' It's hard if poor Booth and Hartley are to be shot down like wild animals and we are never to have our revenge for the murder of our brethren." Then raising his voice and striking his clenched fist on the frame over which Walker was bending with a half scared look on his face, he added in a vehement shout, I'm determined to do for Horsfall this day!" Then turning on his heel, he left the building. Benjamin Walker went to his "drinking" also soon after, and was absent about half-an-hour. When he returned he found Mellor in his room and with him Varley, Hall, Smith, and Thorpe. Mellor was loading a large pistol of peculiar construction, and William Hall was watching him. The pistol had an iron handle, was curiously ornamented with screws at the sides, and had a formidable-looking barrel nearly half a yard long. It was of foreign manufacture, and had been brought from Russia by Mellor,

who had been in that country. loading operation with much interest. quantity of fine powder into it, then a others flattened and cut partly into slugs. be a heavy one, but to the astonishment in a fourth ball and rammed the whole well down. "You surely don't mean to fire that, George," exclaimed the astonished Hall, "why, man, it will jump."

Hall seemed to be watching the Mellor put a considerable ball, and afterwards two The charge appeared to of Hall, Mellor then put

"I do mean to fire it," replied Mellor, emphatically, "I mean to give Horsfall this! Will you go with us?" "No," stammered Hall, I don't like to go." Mellor turned from him as if in disgust. he, handing him a pistol, "that is yours. ball like mine. It will be strange if we

sneering villain!"

'Here, Walker," said It is loaded with double can't some of us hit the

Walker hesitated an instant and then took the pistol, but with evident unwillingness. Examining the weapon he found it was primed and loaded nearly to the top.

While this was going on in one part of the room, the grimly, taciturn Thorpe was standing at a window, chopping a bullet in pieces for slugs. Having accomplished his purpose, he too loaded his pistol, and then stood ready for action.

You go up the road, When you get there likely be there first."

Now you, Walker and Smith, can start, and Thorpe and I will follow by another road," said Mellor. If we were all to go together we should attract attention may be. and we will meet you at Ratcliffe's plantation. climb over the wall and wait; you will most Walker and Smith, in obedience to the order, immediately left the shop and proceeded up the highway to the appointed rendezvous, and Mellor, putting on a bottle-green top coat, concealed the pistol beneath it, and signalling to Thorpe, left the building in his

company.

As Smith and Walker proceeded up the highway past the Warren House Inn, Walker, who had gone thus far in absolute silence, suddenly stopped when above the houses, and leaning against the wall, said, "I will not do this deed, Smith."

"

Well," replied Smith, "I don't much like the job myself, but it will never do to turn back now. Let us go on and try to persuade

Mellor and Thorpe to give it up."

Walker hesitated a few minutes before deciding and thought the matter carefully over. To return and have to answer to the impetuous, headstrong Mellor for deserting him would never do. Walker knew well the man with whom he had to deal, and shrank from the contest. There was the chance that he might be persuaded to give up his mad scheme when they met in the wood, as suggested by Smith, and he therefore decided to go on to the appointed place of meeting. If the reader supposes from the hesitancy displayed by Walker that he was any better than the rest of the villains leagued to carry out this foul plot, he is wefully mistaken. Mellor, with all his faults, had a good share of brute