As he came near I knew it was Bingley i' Ben Craven's working
clothes. He looked i' my face, and said, 'Clough thinks Ben Craven
fired t' shot. If ta helps me away, thou'lt get Mary. Can I go to thy
cottage?' And I said, 'There's a cellar underneath.' That was all.
He had stole Ben's overworker's brat and cap from t' room while Ben
was drinking his tea, and Ben nivver missed it till Jerry Oddy asked
where it was. At night I let him burn them i' my forge. I hev wanted
to tell t' truth often; and I were sick as could be wi' swearing away
Ben's life; indeed I were!"
Before noon the village was in an uproar of excitement. Laycock
followed Bingley to Leeds, and both were committed for trial to York
Castle. Both also received the reward of their evil deed: Bingley
forfeited his life, and Laycock went to Norfolk Island to serve out
a life sentence.
The day of Ben's release was a great holiday. Troubled as the squire
was, he flung open the large barn at Hallam, and set a feast for the
whole village. After it there was a meeting at the chapel, and Ben
told how God had strengthened and comforted him, and made his prison
cell a very gate of heaven. And Martha, who had so little to say to
any human being for weeks, spoke wondrously. Her heart was burning
with love and gratitude; the happy tears streamed down her face; she
stood with clasped hands, telling how God had dealt with her, and
trying in vain to express her love and praise until she broke into
a happy song, and friends and neighbors lifted it with her, and the
rafters rang to
"Hallelujah to the Lamb,
Who has purchased our pardon!
We will praise him again
When we pass over Jordan.
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