I am sorry for the Traffords; they have old blood in
their veins. Before sunset their settlement will be razed to
the ground. Can we prevent it? And why not attack the castle
instead of the mill?"
Book 6 Chapter 10
About noon of this day there was a great stir in Mowbray. It
was generally whispered about that the Liberator at the head
of the Hell-cats and all others who chose to accompany them
was going to pay a visit to Mr Trafford's settlement, in order
to avenge an insult which his envoys had experienced early in
the morning when, accompanied by a rabble of two or three
hundred persons, they had repaired to the Mowedale works in
order to signify the commands of the Liberator that labour
should stop, and if necessary to enforce those commands. The
injunctions were disregarded. and when the mob in pursuance
of their further instructions began to force the great gates
of the premises, in order that they might enter the building,
drive the plugs out of the steam-boilers, and free the slaves
enclosed, a masqued battery of powerful engines was suddenly
opened upon them, and the whole band of patriots were deluged.
It was impossible to resist a power which seemed
inexhaustible, and wet to the skins and amid the laughter of
their adversaries they fled.
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