“’Let me ask the lady a question, Sir Hargrave.  Are you, madam, Lady Pollexfen?’ said I.

“‘Oh, no, no, no!’ was all she could say.

“Two of my servants came about me; a third held the head of the horse on which the postilion sat.  Three of Sir Hargrave’s approached on their horses, but seemed as if afraid to come too near, and parleyed together.

“‘Have an eye to those fellows,’ said I.  ’Some base work is on foot.  Sirrah!’—­to the coachman—­’proceed at your peril!’

“Sir Hargrave then, with violent curses and threatenings, ordered him to drive over everyone that opposed him.

“‘Oh, sir—­sir,’ cried the lady, ’help me, for I am in a villain’s hands!  Trick’d—­vilely trick’d!’

“‘Do you,’ said I to my servants, ’cut the traces if you cannot otherwise stop this chariot!  Leave Sir Hargrave to me!’

“The lady continued screaming, and crying out for help.  Sir Hargrave drew his sword, and then called upon his servants to fire at all that opposed his progress.

“’My servants, Sir Hargrave, have firearms as well as yours.  They will not dispute my orders.  Don’t provoke me to give the word.’  Then, addressing the lady:  ‘Will you, madam, put yourself into my protection?’

“‘Oh, yes, yes, with my whole heart!  Dear, good sir, protect me!’

“I opened the chariot door.  Sir Hargrave made a pass at me.

“‘Take that for your insolence, scoundrel!’ said he.

“I was aware of his thrust, and put it by; but his sword a little raked my shoulder.  My sword was in my hand, but undrawn.

“The chariot door remaining open.  I seized him by the collar before he could recover himself from the pass he had made at me, and with a jerk and a kind of twist, laid him under the hind wheel of his chariot.  I wrenched his sword from him, and snapped it, and flung the two pieces over my head.

“His coachman cried out for his master.  Mine threatened his if he stirred.  The postilion was a boy.  My servant had made him dismount before he joined the other two.  The wretches, knowing the badness of their cause, were becoming terrified.

“One of Sir Hargraves’s legs, in his sprawling, had got between the spokes of his chariot-wheel.  I thought this was fortunate for preventing farther mischief.  I believe he was bruised with the fall; the jerk was violent.

“I had not drawn my sword.  I hope I never shall be provoked to do it in a private quarrel.  I should not, however, have scrupled to draw it on such an occasion as this had there been an absolute necessity for it.

“The lady, though greatly terrified, had disengaged herself from the man’s cloak.  I offered my hand, and your lovely cousin threw herself into my arms, as a frighted bird pursued by a hawk has flown into the bosom of a man passing by.  She was ready to faint.  She could not, I believe, have stood.  I carried the lovely creature round, and seated her in my chariot.