"Only those above stairs; the lower are all barred."

"A fig for his bars. Does he think we have neither hands nor wits to be
hindered by this silly woman's trick?"

"'Tis no silly trick. He's not the man to do an idle thing. There's
mischief in this."

"What mischief can he do us more than he has done?--for I see his hand
in our misfortune. What mischief, I say?--out with it, man, for your
looks betray a fear of something worse."

"Faith, Jack, I dread he has gone to fetch help and will lodge us in
gaol for this business."

"Gaol!" cries he, in a passion of desperation. "Why, this will undo Moll
for ever. Her husband can never forgive her putting such shame upon him.
Rouse yourself, man, from your stupor. Get me something in the shape of
a hammer, for God's sake, that we may burst our way from this accursed
trap."

I bethought me of an axe for splitting wood, that lay in the kitchen,
and fetching it quickly, I put it in his hand. Bidding me stand aside,
he let fly at the door like a madman. The splinters flew, but the door
held good; and when he stayed a moment to take a new grip on his axe, I
heard a clamour of voices outside--Simon's, higher than the rest,
crying, "My new door, that cost me seven and eightpence!"

"The lock, the lock!" says I. "Strike that off."

Down came the axe, striking a spark of fire from the lock, which fell
with a clatter at the next blow; but ere we had time to open the door,
Simon and his party, entering by the back door, forced us to turn for
our defence. Perceiving Dawson armed with an axe, however, these fellows
paused, and the leader, whom I recognised for the constable of our
parish, carrying a staff in one hand and a lanthorn in t'other, cried to
us in the king's name to surrender ourselves.

"Take us, if you can," cries Dawson; "and the Lord have mercy on the
first who comes within my reach!"

Deftly enough, old Simon, snatching the fellow's cap who stood next him,
flings it at the candle that stands flaring on the floor, and justles
the constable's lanthorn from his hand, so that in a moment we were all
in darkness. Taking us at this disadvantage (for Dawson dared not lay
about him with his axe, for fear of hitting me by misadventure), the
rascals closed at once; and a most bloody, desperate fight ensued. For,
after the first onslaught, in which Dawson (dropping his axe, as being
useless at such close quarters) and I grappled each our man, the rest,
knowing not friend f