Here the boy shook off the Major's touch, and stood up.
"Yes; to make her go quiet; only mother was drunk, and she done too much."
There was a kind of growl all round among the listening Dalesmen. Otis grew green, and clenched his fist.
"You shall pay for this!" he muttered to the boy.
"Had Otis paid your mother to arrange the matter?" went on Bert relentlessly.
"Yes."
"And this is the cur," said Hubert, between his teeth, "who has dared to slander a young innocent girl before you all this day."
Otis was literally foaming at the mouth. His mortification was choking him.
"I said what was true!" he screamed. "Mestaer did carry her off! I said no more! She was in his house! That's all I said."
"Yes, and that's what you'll go to hell for saying!" shouted Dow, cracking a formidable whip he held, and stamping with excitement. "It isn't a sjambok, Captain, but let me lay it round him once or twice! Let me just give him the feel of it! Do now!"