hou dost resist;
well, thou knowest that thou needst not to expect mercy."

"Is that all?"

"That is all."

"Then know, thou slave of degradation and all that is most abominable,
that I, as would any man, reject thy base proposal, with words too poor
and weak to express, in any good measure, my contempt for the proposer."

At this moment the inner door fell from its hinges with a crash; and
then the adjoining room was filled with oaths and the ring of fearful
blows.

"Come then, make haste!" cried Catesby to his followers, "yon Herculean
savage hath burst through the inner door. Next will he break down
this; unless those knaves do stop him."

Then the whole pack of varlets rushed upon me from all points but my
back, where the table did prevent them from surrounding me.

"Ha! thou caitiff! ha! thou slave!" cried I, as I struck down the two
foremost of the assassins.

"What! do ye hesitate, and shrink from a single sword? Strike him
down, ye varlets, or at your peril stay a hand until we have him!" and
the chiefest of mine attackers drew forth his sword and, stepping o'er
the body of one of his fallen band, he did engage with me so hotly as
to cause me to use all of my defence in guarding me from his fierce
cuts and thrusts.

In then there rushed the others; but so many were there that they did
interfere with each other; thus enabling me to still guard off their
blows with my good armoured left arm.

Michael had now overcome his three antagonists, and thundered with his
mighty shoulders against the remaining door. I knew that this would be
more difficult to break down; for, besides being more heavy, as Catesby
had said, it opened towards Michael, and this did add greatly unto its
powers of resistance. I dared not turn mine eyes towards the door,
lest on mine head a stunning blow should fall.

My left arm now had lost its wonted strength, with guarding of the many
blows that fell so hard and thick upon it.

"Now we have him! Press him both close and hard!" cried Catesby, as he
renewed, with all his activity, his lightning-like attack.

Never in my life have I, before that day nor since, fought with such
quickness or strength. I was as a madman for the nonce, and fought
with the delight of intoxicated recklessness. My sword seemed
everywhere at once, and even the shifty Catesby was pressed back. I
stepped forward in the delirium of feverish thirst for slaughter.

"Walter, beware! beware!" cried Haz