any of them knew. It gave them a vague satisfaction when they heard
that a British victory had been won; and when money had been more
plentiful, the occasion had been a good excuse for an extra bout
of drinking, for most of them were croppers, and had in their time
been as rough and as wild as the younger men were now; but they
had learned a certain amount of wisdom, and shook their heads over
the talk and doings of the younger men who met at the "Dog."

Here there was neither quiet nor resignation, but fiery talk and
stern determination; it was a settled thing here that the machines
were responsible for the bad times. The fact that such times
prevailed over the whole country in no way affected their opinion.
It was not for them to deny that there was a war, that food was
dear, and taxation heavy. These things might be; but the effect of
the machinery came straight home to them, and they were convinced
that if they did but hold together and wreck the machines prosperity
would return to Varley.

The organization for resistance was extensive. There were branches
in every village in West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottingham, and
Derby--all acting with a common purpose. The members were bound
by terrible oaths upon joining the society to be true to its objects,
to abstain on pain of death from any word which might betray its
secrets, and to carry into execution its orders, even if these
should involve the slaying of a near relation proved to have turned
traitor to the society.

Hitherto no very marked success had attended its doings. There
had been isolated riots in many places; mills had been burned, and
machinery broken. But the members looked forward to better things.