nant shouting of the few who desired to preserve
order mingled with the clamour of those who combated. Demos was having
his way; civilisation was blotted out, and club law proclaimed.

Mutimer lost his hat in jumping from the cart; in five minutes his
waistcoat and shirt were rent open, whether by friends in guarding him,
or by foes in assailing, it was impossible to say. But his bodyguard
held together with wonderful firmness, only now and then an enemy got
near enough to dash a fist in his face. If he fell into the hands of the
mob he was done for; Mutimer knew that, and was ready to fight for his
life. But the direction taken by the main current of the crowd favoured
him. In about twenty minutes he was swept away from the Green, and into
a street. There were now fewer foes about him; he saw an opportunity,
and together with Redgrave burst away. There was no shame in taking to
flight where the odds against him were so overwhelming. But pursuers
were close behind him; their cry gave a lead to the chase. He looked for
some by-way as he rushed along the pavement. But an unexpected refuge
offered itself. He was passing a little group of women, when a voice
from among them cried loudly--'In here! In here!' He saw that a
house-door was open, saw a hand beckon wildly, and at once sprang for
the retreat. A woman entered immediately behind him and slammed the
door, but he did not see that a stick which the foremost of his pursuers
had flung at him came with a terrible blow full upon his preserver's
face.

For a moment he could only lean against the wall of the passage,
recovering his breath. Where he stood it was almost dark, for the
evening was drawing in. The woman who had rescued him was standing near,
but he could not distinguish her face. He heard the mob assembling in
the narrow street, their shouts, their trampling, and speedily there
began a great noise at the door. A beating with sticks and fists, a
thundering at the knocker.

'Are you the landlady?' Mutimer asked, turning to his silent companion.

'No,' was the reply. 'She is outside, I must put up the chain. They
might get her latchkey from her.'

At the first syllable he started; the voice was so familiar to him. The
words were spoken with an entire absence of womanish consternation; the
voice trembled a little, but for all that there was calm courage in its
sound. When she had made the door secure and turned again towards him,
he looked into her face as close