_"
ARNOLD
A body of these wretches, fresh from some act of rapine and pillage, had
seen Mrs. Franklin, hastening home, and, opening the hue and cry, had
started in full chase after her. Struck by sticks and stones that
darkened the air, twice down, fleeing as those only do who flee for
life, she gained her own house, thinking there to find security. Vain
hope! the door was battered in, the windows demolished, the puny
barriers between the room in which they were gathered and the creatures
in pursuit, speedily destroyed,--and these three turned to face death.
By chance, Surrey had his sword at his side, and, tearing this from its
scabbard, sprang to the defence,--a gallant intent, but what could one
weapon and one arm do against such odds as these? He was speedily beaten
down and flung aside by the miscreants who swarmed into the room. It
was marvellous they did not kill him outright. Doubtless they would have
done so but for the face propped against the pillows, which caught their
hungry eyes. Soldier and woman were alike forgotten at sight of this
dying boy. Here was a foeman worthy their steel. They gathered about
him, and with savage hands struck at him and the bed upon which he lay.
A pause for a moment to hold consultation, crowded with oaths and jeers
and curses; obscenity and blasphemy too hideous to read or record,--then
the cruel hands tore him from his bed, dragged him over the prostrate
body of his mother, past the senseless form of his brave young defender,
out to the street.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227