fro his
brawny bulk, had cleared the space round him, and stood resting his
hands on the heavy armchair from which he had risen.

A hostile and simultaneous movement of the group brought four or five of
the foremost on him. Up rose the chair on which Jasper had leaned--up it
rose in his right hand, and two of the assailants fell as falls an ox to
the butcher's blow. With his left hand he wrenched a knife from a third
of the foes, and thus armed with blade and buckler, he sprang on the
table, towering over all. Before him was the man with the revolver,
a genteeler outlaw than the rest-ticket-of-leave man, who had been
transported for forgery. "Shall I shoot him?" whispered this knave to
Cutts. Cutts drew back the hesitating arm. "No; the noise! bludgeons
safer." Pounce, as Cutts whispered--pounce as a hawk on its quarry,
darted Jasper's swoop on the Forger, and the next moment, flinging the
chair in the faces of those who were now swarming up the table, Jasper
was armed with the revolver, which he had clutched from its startled
owner, and its six barrels threatened death, right and left, beside and
before and around him, as he turned from face to face. Instantly there
fell a hush--instantly the assault paused. Every one felt that there
no faltering would make the hand tremble or the ball swerve. Whereever
Jasper turned the foes recoiled. He laughed with audacious mockery as he
surveyed the recreants.

"Down with your arms, each of you--down that knife, down that bludgeon.
That's well. Down yours--there; yours--yours. What, all down! Pile them
here on the table at my feet. Dogs, what do you fear?-death. The first
who refuses dies."

Mute and servile as a repentant Legion to a Caesar's order, the knaves
piled their weapons.

"Unbar the door, you two. You, orator Cutts, go in front; light a
candle--open the street-door. So-so-so. Who will treat me with a parting
cup--to your healths? Thank you, sir. Fall back there; stand back--along
the wall--each of you. Line my way. Ho, ho!--you harm me--you daunt
me--you--you! Stop--I have a resolution to propose. Hear it, and cheer.
'That this meeting rescinds the resolution for the expulsion of General
Jasper, and entreats him humbly to remain, the pride and ornament of the
club!' Those who are for that resolution, hold up their hands--as many
as are against it, theirs. Carried unanimously. Gentlemen, I thank
you--proudest day of my life--but I'll see you hanged first; and till
t