"Brace?" Sam repeated, as if in bewilderment, "Why he didn't come with us."
"Wasn't he in this place when you got here?"
"Of course not. I'm most certain I saw him in the village just after the works were shut down."
There was a ring of truth in the boy's tones which could not be mistaken, and the rioters appeared satisfied.
"Abe, go an' tell Billings that Brace got out of here in time to warn Wright, an' let him know what we've struck. Don't waste any time now."
When the messenger had departed the leader beckoned to another member of the party, and said as he pointed to Sam:
"Take care of him. The whole thing would soon be up if he should get away."
"What'll I do with the cub?" the man asked in a surly tone.
"Anything so that you keep him safe. A thump on the head will help straighten matters, if he tries to kick up a row."
"Where are you going?"