Having succeeded in their primary attempt to cut the wire，and finding the determined band of defenders more dangerous than they had thought，the workmen retreated in the direction of Royal，where there was more to be gained by rioting than in Millville.
When at last the town was clear of them，Arthur，who was considerably battered and bruisedb but pleased with the triumphant ending of the adventure，drove the girls and the major to the farm.They urged Hetty to accompany them，but she declared she was not a bit nervous and preferred to sleep at the hotel.
"I think the trouble is over for to—night，"said West，and all agreed with him.Cox and Booth decided to sleep in the printing office，and after the girls had driven away with their escorts and the villagers had dispersed to their homes，Thursday put on his coat and walked to the hotel with Hetty.
"All that row was about me，"he remarked disconsolately.
"But they didn't get you，"said Hetty，triumph in her voice.
"No."
He did not mention her bravery，or the loyal support of Beth and Patsy，but after a moment he added："I'm not worth defending.""How do you know？"asked Hetty."It occurs to me，Mr.
Smith，that you are as much a stranger to yourself as to us.""That is true.""And in emergencies you are not averse to defending others.Of course Miss DeGraf and her cousin wanted the paper printed，at all hazards.I don't blame them for that；but I—"She hesitated.
"You simply stood by a comrade.Thank you，Hetty.""Good night，Thursday.""Will you be able to sleep to—night ？""I'm going straight to bed.The rumpusa has quieted my nerves.""Good night，then."In the early morning Mr.Merrick was awakened by a red glare that ？ooded his bedroom.Going to the window he found the sky at the north full of ？ame.He threw on his bathrobe and went to the door of Arthur Weldon's room，arousing the young man with a rap on the panels.
"The settlement at Royal is burning，"he reported.
Arthur came out，very weary and drowsy，for he had not been asleep long and the strenuous work of the night had tiredhim.
"Let it burn，"he said，glancing through a window at thelurida light of the con？agrationb."We couldn't be of any use going over there and，after all，it isn't our affair to relieve Skeelty."Then he told Uncle John of the riot in the village，for theold gentleman had been sound asleep when the party returned to the farm.
"The blaze is the work of those crazy strikers，I suppose，"said Mr.Merrick."It looks from here as if they had set ？re to their own homes，as well as to the paper mills and of？ce and store buildings.It will be fortunate if the forest does not also burn.""Don't worry，sir，"advised Arthur."We'll discover theextent of the ？re by daylight.For my part，I'm going back to bed，and it will be well for you to follow my example.""Another item for the paper，"whispered a soft voice，and there was Patsy beside them at the window.
Mr.Merrick sighed.
"I had no idea so much excitement could possibly happen at Millville，"said he."If this keeps on we'll have to go back to New York for quiet.But let us get to bed，my dear，for to—morrow is likely to be a busy day for us all."
