."

The sergeant dismounted quite coolly, and summoned six men to his
assistance. I noticed that the officers did not display any great
alacrity, and acted as though quite ashamed of the duty that they were
to enter upon.

"The sergeant means to have assistance enough," Fred remarked,
addressing the inspector.

"You will see," the latter returned; and we did, sure enough; for no
sooner did the officers lay hands upon Michael than the woman dropped
her child, and with a wild shout threw herself upon them. The first poor
devil whom she spotted lost a handful of hair--but as it was as red as
fire it was no great sacrifice to the owner--the second had a piece of
skin clawed off his nose, and the third reluctantly parted with a piece
of flesh weighing nearly a quarter of an ounce, torn forcibly from his
cheek. The police endeavored to keep her at arms' length without
success--she broke down their defences, and clawed the hair from their
heads in the most scientific manner; and yet she had all the fighting to
do, for Michael remained in the custody of two officers without offering
to strike a blow for liberty.

The war was at length fiercely contested, for the officers, finding that
they were likely to be placed _hors du combat_, made a rush towards the
Amazon; and while two seized her arms, two more grasped her legs, and I
am obliged to confess that the police did not display much delicacy in
the latter operation. In spite of her struggles--in defiance of her
imprecations, and calls for Mike to interfere in her behalf--she was
carried bodily towards the hut, and poised in the air for a moment; and
then, with a "one, two, three, and away she goes," was thrown head
foremost through the door, and landed in the middle of the hut all in a
heap.

"You have kilt me wife," moaned Mike, who watched the operation With
considerable anxiety for his better half.

"Hang her, she's skinned me from head to foot," muttered one of the
officers, wiping his bleeding face on a handkerchief, and showing his
wounds to the inspector.

"Skinned!" echoed another; "if she had only taken skin I shouldn't mind
it much; but, blast her, she has torn flesh and muscle from my face."

"I'm sorry for your misfortunes, but we will have her arrested on a
warrant to-morrow, and fined," the inspector said. "Bring Mike along,
and set him at work on the roads for a few days."

"Arrah, now, Mr. Inspector, don't be after doing that," shouted the
Irishman;