that
when a gentleman declines to receive company, when he shows himself
indisposed to the society of strangers--"

"One minute more, now," said he, in a low growl; while he proceeded to
button up his coat to the neck, and make preparation for some coming
event.

My heart was in my mouth; I gave a glance at the window; it was the
third story, and a leap out would have been fatal. What would I not
have given for one of those weapons I had so proudly proclaimed myself
possessed of! There was not even a poker in the room. I made a spring at
the bell-rope, and before he could interpose, gave one pull that, though
it brought down the cord, resounded through the whole house.

"Time is up, Porringer," said he, slowly, as he replaced the watch in
his pocket, and grasped his murderous-looking cane.

[Illustration: 132]

There was a large table in the room, and I intrenched myself at once
behind this, armed with a light cane chair, while I screamed murder in
every language I could command. Failing to reach me across the table,
my assailant tried to dodge me by false starts, now at this side, now
at that. Though a large fleshy man, he was not inactive, and it required
all my quickness to escape him. These manoeuvres being unsuccessful, he
very quickly placed a chair beside the table and mounted upon it. I now
hurled my chair at him; he warded off the blow and rushed on; with one
spring I bounded under the table, reappearing at the opposite side
just as he had reached mine. These tactics we now pursued for several
minutes, when my enemy suddenly changed his attack, and, descending from
the table, he turned it on edge; the effort required strength. I seized
the moment and reached the door; I tore it open in some fashion,
gained the stairs, the court, the streets, and ran ever onward with the
wildness of one possessed with no time for thought, nor any knowledge to
guide; I turned left and right, choosing only the narrowest lanes
that presented themselves, and at last came to a dead halt at an open
drawbridge, where a crowd stood waiting to pass.

"How is this? What's all the hurry for? Where are you running this
fashion?" cried a well-known voice. I turned, and saw the skipper of the
packet.

"Are you armed? Can you defend me?" cried I, in terror; "or shall I leap
in and swim for it?"

"I'll stand by you. Don't be afraid, man," said he, drawing my arm
within his; "no one shall harm you. Were they robbers?"

"No, worse,--a