"It's Mrs. Haden," Nelly Hardy said. "Jack, it's your mother."
"What is it?" Jack said in astonishment. "Anything wrong wi' dad?"
"Stop!" Mrs. Haden gasped again; "there's three hundred and more young chaps and boys wi' sticks and stones joost awaiting on this side t'village, awaiting to pay you all oot."
Ejaculations of alarm were heard all round, and several of the girls began to whimper.
"Hush!" Mr. Dodgson said, coming forward. "Let all keep silence, there may be no occasion for alarm; let us hear all about it, Mrs. Haden."
Mrs. Haden repeated her story, and said that Harry's father and mother were getting a body of pitmen to help them.
"I think, Mr. Dodgson," said Jack, "the girls had best go back to Mr. Brook's as quickly as possible; we will come and fetch them when it's all over."
"I think so too," said Mr. Dodgson, "they might be injured by stones. My dear, do you lead the girls back to Mr. Brook's. The house will hardly be shut up yet, and even if it is, Mr. Brook will gladly receive you. There is no chance of any of the ruffians pursuing them, do you think, Jack, when they find they have only us to deal with?"
"I don't know, sir. If three or four of us were to put on their cloaks, something light to show in the dark, they will think the girls are among us."