put yourself in his place-第46部分

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ery　day　visiting　as　a　friend　the　battered　saw…grinder　who　had　once　put　his　own　life　in　mortal　peril。

He　had　not　fathomed　the　letter　Grace　had　sent　him。　　He　was　a　young　man　and　a　straightforward；　he　did　not　understand　the　amiable　defects　of　the　female　character。　　He　studied　every　line　of　this　letter；　and　it　angered　and　almost　disgusted　him。　　It　was　the　letter　of　a　lady；　but　beneath　the　surface　of　gentleness　and　politeness　lay　a　proposal　which　he　considered　mean　and　cold…blooded。　　It　lowered　his　esteem　for　her。

His　pride　and　indignation　were　roused；　and　battled　with　his　love；　and　they　were　aided　by　the　healthy　invigorating　habits　into　which　Dr。　Amboyne　had　at　last　inveigled　him；　and　so　he　resisted：　he　wrote　more　than　one　letter　in　reply　to　Grace　Carden；　but；　when　he　came　to　read　them　over　and　compare　them　with　her　gentle　effusion；　he　was　ashamed　of　his　harshness；　and　would　not　send　the　letter。

He　fought　on；　philanthropy　in　Hillsborough；　forging　in　Cairnhope　Church；　and　still　he　dreamed　strange　dreams　now　and　then：　for　who　can　work；　both　night　and　day；　as　this　man　didwith　impunity？

One　night　he　dreamed　that　he　was　working　at　his　forge；　when　suddenly　the　floor　of　the　aisle　burst；　and　a　dead　knight　sprang　from　the　grave　with　a　single　bound；　and　stood　erect　before　him；　in　rusty　armor：　out　of　his　helmet　looked　two　eyes　like　black　diamonds；　and　a　nose　like　a　falcon's。　　Yet；　by　one　of　the　droll　contradictions　of　a　dream；　this　impetuous；　warlike　form　no　sooner　opened　its　lips；　than　out　issued　a　lackadaisical　whine。　　〃See　my　breastplate；　good　sir；〃　said　he。　　〃It　was　bright　as　silver　when　I　made　itI　was　like　you；　I　forged　my　own　weapons；　forged　them　with　these　hands。　　But　now　the　damps　of　the　grave　have　rusted　it。　　Odsbodikins！　is　this　a　thing　for　a　good　knight　to　appear　in　before　his　judge？　　And　to…morrow　is　doomsday；　so　they　all　say。〃

Then　Henry　pitied　the　poor　simple　knight　（in　his　dream）；　and　offered　his　services　to　polish　the　corslet　up　a　bit　against　that　great　occasion。　　He　pointed　toward　his　forge；　and　the　knight　marched　to　it；　in　three　wide　steps　that　savored　strongly　of　theatrical　burlesque。　　But　the　moment　he　saw　the　specimens　of　Henry's　work　lying　about；　he　drew　back；　and　wheeled　upon　the　man　of　the　day　with　huge　disdain。　　〃What；〃　said　he；　〃do　you　forge　toys！　　Learn　that　a　gentleman　can　only　forge　those　weapons　of　war　that　gentlemen　do　use。　And　I　took　you　for　a　Raby！〃

With　these　bitter　words　he　vanished；　with　flashing　eyes　and　a　look　of　magnificent　scorn；　and　left　his　fiery；　haughty　features　imprinted　clearly　on　Henry's　memory。

One　evening；　as　he　plied　his　hammer；　he　heard　a　light　sound　at　a　window；　in　an　interval　of　his　own　noise。　　He　looked　hastily　up；　and　caught　a　momentary　sight　of　a　face　disappearing　from　the　window。　　It　was　gone　like　a　flash　even　as　he　caught　sight　of　it。

Transient　as　the　glance　was；　it　shook　him　greatly。　　He　heated　a　bar　of　iron　white　hot　at　one　end；　and　sallied　out　into　the　night。　　But　there　was　not　a　creature　to　be　seen。

Then　he　called　aloud；　〃Who's　there？〃　　No　reply。　　〃Jael；　was　it　you？〃　Dead　silence。

He　returned　to　his　work；　and　set　the　appearance　down　to　an　ocular　illusion。　　But　his　dreams　had　been　so　vivid；　that　this　really　seemed　only　one　step　more　into　the　realm　of　hallucination。

This　was　an　unfortunate　view　of　the　matter。

On　old　Christmas　Eve　he　lighted　the　fires　in　his　mausoleum　first；　and　at　last　succeeded　in　writing　a　letter　to　Grace　Carden。　　He　got　out　of　the　difficulty　in　the　best　way；　by　making　it　very　short。　　He　put　it　in　an　envelope；　and　addressed　it；　intending　to　give　it　to　Jael　Dence；　from　whom　he　was　always　expecting　a　second　visit。

He　then　lighted　his　forge；　and　soon　the　old　walls　were　ringing　again　with　the　blows　of　his　hammer。

It　was　ten　o'clock　at　night；　a　clear　frosty　night；　but　he　was　heated　and　perspiring　with　his　ardent　work；　when；　all　of　a　sudden；　a　cold　air　seemed　to　come　in　upon　him　from　a　new　quarterthe　door。　　He　left　his　forge；　and　took　a　few　steps　to　where　he　could　see　the　door。　Instead　of　the　door；　he　saw　the　blue　sky。

He　uttered　an　exclamation；　and　rubbed　his　eyes。

It　was　no　hallucination。　　The　door　lay　flat　on　the　ground；　and　the　stars　glittered　in　the　horizon。

Young　Little　ran　toward　the　door；　but；　when　he　got　near　it；　he　paused；　and　a　dire　misgiving　quelled　him。　　A　workman　soon　recognizes　a　workman's　hand；　and　he　saw　Hillsborough　cunning　and　skill　in　this　feat；　and　Hillsborough　cunning　and　cruelty　lurking　in　ambush　at　the　door。

He　went　back　to　his　forge；　and；　the　truth　must　be　told；　his　knees　felt　weak　under　him　with　fears　of　what　was　to　come。

He　searched　about　for　weapons；　and　could　find　nothing　to　protect　him　against　numbers。　　Pistols　he　had：　but；　from　a　wretched　over…　security；　he　had　never　brought　them　to　Cairnhope　Church。

Oh；　it　was　an　era　of　agony　that　minute；　in　which；　after　avoiding　the　ambuscade　that　he　felt　sure　awaited　him　at　the　door；　he　had　nothing　on　earth　he　could　do　but　wait　and　see　what　was　to　come　next。

He　knew　that　however　small　his　chance　of　escape　by　fighting；　it　was　his　only　one；　and　he　resolved　to　receive　the　attack　where　he　was。　He　blew　his　bellows　and；　cold　at　heart；　affected　to　forge。

Dusky　forms　stole　into　the　old　church。


CHAPTER　XV。


Little　blew　his　coals　to　a　white　heat：　then　took　his　hammer　into　his　left　hand；　and　his　little　iron　shovel；　a　weapon　about　two　feet　long；　into　his　right。

Three　assailants　crept　toward　him；　and　his　position　was　such　that　two　at　least　could　assail　him　front　and　rear。　　He　counted　on　that；　and　measured　their　approach　with　pale　cheek　but　glittering　eye；　and　thrust　his　shovel　deep　into　the　white　coals。

They　crept　nearer　and　nearer；　and；　at　last；　made　an　almost　simultaneous　rush　on　him　back　and　front。

The　man　in　the　rear　was　a　shade　in　advance　of　the　other。　　Little；　whose　whole　soul　was　in　arms；　had　calculated　on　this；　and　turning　as　they　came　at　him；　sent　a　shovelful　of　fiery　coals　into　that　nearest　assailant's　face；　then　stepped　swiftly　out　of　the　way　of　the　other；　who　struck　at　him　too　immediately　for　him　to　parry；　ere　he　could　recover　the　wasted　blow；　Little's　hot　shovel　came　down　in　his　head　with　tremendous　force；　and　laid　him　senseless　and　bleeding　on　the　hearth；　with　blood　running　from　his　ears。

Little　ladled　the　coals　right　and　left　on　the　other　two　assailants；　one　of　whom　was　already　yelling　with　the　pain　of　the　first　shovelful；　then；　vaulting　suddenly　over　a　pew；　he　ran　for　the　door。

There　he　was　encountered　by　Sam　Cole；　an　accomplished　cudgel…player；　who　parried　his　blows　coolly；　and　gave　him　a　severe　rap　on　the　head　that　dazzled　him。　　But　he　fought　on；　till　he　heard　footsteps　coming　behind　him；　and　then　rage　and　despair　seized　him；　he　drew　back；　shifted　his　hammer　into　his　right　hand　and　hurled　it　with　all　his　force　at　Cole's　breast；　for　he　feared　to　miss　his　head。　　Had　it　struck　him　on　the　breast；　delivered　as　it　was；　it　would　probably　have　smashed　his　breastbone；　and　killed　him；　but　it　struck　him　on　his　throat；　which　was；　in　some　degree；　protected　by　a　muffler：　it　struck　him　and　sent　him　flying　like　a　feather：　he　fell　on　his　back　in　the　porch；　yards　from　where　he　received　that　prodigious　blow。

Henry　was　bounding　out　after　him；　when　he　was　seized　from　behind；　and　the　next　moment　another　seized　him　too；　and　his　right　hand　was　now　disarmed　by　throwing　away　the　hammer。

He　struggled　furiously　with　them；　and　twice　he　shook　them　off；　and　struck　them　with　his　fist；　and　jobbed　them　with　his　shovel　quick　and　short；　as　a　horse　kicking。

But　one　was　cunning　enough　to　make　a　feint　at　his　face；　and　then　fell　down　and　lay　hold　of　his　knees：　he　was　about　to　pulverize　this　fellow　with　one　blow　of　his　shovel；　when　the　other　flung　his　arms　round　him。　　It　became　a　mere　struggle。　　Such　was　his　fury　and　his　vigor；　however；　that　they　could　not　master　him。　　He　played　his　head　like　a　snake；　so　that　they　could　not　seize　him　disadvantageously；　and　at　last　he　dropped　his　shovel　and　got　them　both　by　the　throat；　and　grasped　them　so　fiercely　that　their　faces　were　purple；　and　their　eyes　beginning　to　fix；　when　to　his　dismay；　he　received　a　violent　blow　on　the　right　arm　that　nearly　broke　it：　he　let　go；　with　a　cry　of　pain；　and　with　his　left　hand　twisted　the　other　man　round　so　quickly；　that　he　received　the　next　blow　of　Cole's　cudgel。　　Then　he　dashed　his　left　fist　into　Cole's　eye；　who　staggered；　but　still　barred　the　way；　so　Little　rushed　upon　him；　and　got　him　by　the　throat；　and　would　soon　have　settled　him：　but　the　others　recovered　themselves　ere　he　could　squeeze　all　the　wind　out　of　Cole；　and　it　became　a　struggle　of　three　to　one。

He　dragged　them　all　three　about　with　him；　he　kicked；　he　hit；　he　did　every　thing　that　a　man　with　one　hand；　and　a　lion's　heart；　could　do。

But　gradually　they　got　the　better　of　him；　and　at　last　it　came　to　this；　that　two　were　struggling　on　the　ground　with　him；　and　Cole　standing　over　them　all　three；　ready　to　strike。

〃Now；　hold　him　so；　while　I　settle　him；〃　cried　Cole；　and　raised　his　murderous　cudgel。

It　came　down　on　Little's　shoulder；　and　only　just　missed　his　head。

Again　it　came　down；　and　with　terrible　force。

Up　to　this　time　he　had　fought　as　mute　as　a　fox。　　But　now　that　it　had　come　to　mere　butchery；　he　cried　out；　in　his　agony；　〃They'll　kill　me。　My　mother！　　Help！　　Murder！　　Help！〃

〃Ay！　thou'lt　never　forge　no　more！〃　roared　Cole；　and　thwack　came　down　the　crushing　bludgeon。

〃Help！　　Murder！　　Help！〃　screamed　the　victim；　more　faintly；　and　at　the　next　blow　more　faintly　still。

But　again　the　murderous　cudgel　was　lifted　high；　to　descend　upon　his　young　head。

As　the　confederates　held　the　now　breathless　and　despairing　victim　to　receive　the　blow；　and　the　butcher；　with　one　eye　closed　by　Henry's　fist；　but　the　other　gleaming　savagely；　raised　the　cudgel　to　finish　him；　Henry　saw　a　huge　tongue　of　flame　pour　out　at　them　all；　from　outside　the　church；　and　a　report；　that　sounded　like　a　cannon；　was　accompanied　by　the　vicious　ping　of　shot。　　Cole　screamed　and　yelled；　and　dropped　his　cudgel；　and　his　face　was　covered　with　blood　in　a　moment；　he　yelled；　and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　instantly　came　another　flash；　another　report；　another　cruel　ping　of　shot；　and　this　time　his　hands　were　covered　with　blood。

The　others　rolled　yelling　o