deep, and ran up,to the root of the hair, dividing his face into two segments, that did not seem to have been designed for each other.  His lips were half open, and the corners of his mouth a little brought back on each side, like those of a man expressing intense hatred and triumph over an enemy who is in the death-struggle under his grasp.  His eyes blazed from beneath his knit eyebrows with a fire that seemed to be lighted up in the infernal pit itself.  It is unnecessary, and only painful, to describe the rest of his gang; demons might have been proud of such horrible visages as they exhibited; for they worked under all the power of hatred, revenge, and joy; and these passions blended into one terrible scowl, enough almost to blast any human eye that would venture to look upon it.

When the others attempted to intercede for the lives of the inmates, there were at least fifteen guns and pistols levelled at them.

“Another word,” said the Captain, “an’ you’re a corpse where you stand, or the first man who will dare to spake for them; no, no, it wasn’t to spare them we came here.  ‘No mercy’ is the pass-word for the night, an’ by the sacred oath I swore beyant in the chapel, any one among yez that will attempt to show it, will find none at my hand.  Surround the house, boys, I tell ye, I hear them stirring.  ‘No quarter—­no mercy,’ is the ordher of the night.”

Such was his command over these misguided creatures, that in an instant there was a ring round the house to prevent the escape of the unhappy inmates, should the raging element give them time to attempt it; for none present durst withdraw themselves from the scene, not only from an apprehension of the Captain’s present vengeance, or that of his gang, but because they knew that even had they then escaped, an early and certain death awaited them from a quarter against which they had no means of defence.  The hour now was about half-past two! o’clock.  Scarcely had the last words escaped from the Captain’s lips, when one of the windows of the house was broken, and a human head, having the hair in a blaze, was descried, apparently a woman’s, if one might judge by the profusion of burning tresses, and the softness of the tones, notwithstanding that it called, or rather shrieked aloud for help and mercy.  The only reply to this was the whoop from the Captain and his gang, of “No mercy—­no mercy!” and that instant the former, and one of the latter, rushed to the spot, and ere the action could be perceived, the head was transfixed with a bayonet and a pike, both having entered it together.  The word “mercy” was divided in her mouth; a short silence ensued, the head hung down on the window, but was instantly tossed back into the flames.