“Theer, theer, theer,” said Pannell; “I don’t kick agen it. I s’pected they’d do some’at. I know’d it must coom. Chap as breaks the laws has to tek his bit o’ punishment. Chaps don’t bear no malice. I’m comin’ back to work next week.”
“Look here,” said Uncle Jack, who was a good deal moved by the man’s calm patience, “what are we to do to come to terms with the workmen, and have an end to these outrages?”
“Oh, that’s soon done,” replied Pannell, rubbing one great muscular arm with his hand, “yow’ve just got to give up all contrapshions, and use reg’lar old-fashioned steel, and it’ll be all right.”
“And would you do this, my man?” said Uncle Jack, looking down at the great muscular fellow before him.
“Ay, I’d do it for sake o’ peace and quiet. I should nivver go agen trade.”
“And you would advise me to give up at the command of a set of ignorant roughs, and make myself their slave instead of master.”
“Mester Jacob,” said Pannell, “I can’t see a bit wi’ this towel round my head; look uppards and downards; any o’ the chaps coming?”
“No,” I said.
“Then look here, Mester, I will speak if I nivver do again. No, I wouldn’t give up if I was you, not if they did a hundred worse things than they’ve done yet. Theer!”
Uncle Jack looked down on the man, and then said quickly: