“My God! will you see your child strangled before your eyes, and not so much as scream for help?” said Wood, staring at the widow with a look of surprise and horror.  “Woman, your wits are fled!”

And so it seemed; for all the answer she could make was to murmur distractedly, “I can’t find the key.”

“Devil take the key!” ejaculated Wood.  “They’re about to murder your child—­your child, I tell you!  Do you comprehend what I say, Joan?”

“I’ve hurt my head,” replied Mrs. Sheppard, pressing her hand to her temples.

And then, for the first time, Wood noticed a small stream of blood coursing slowly down her cheek.

At this moment, Davies, who had completed his preparations, extinguished the torch.

“It’s all over,” groaned Wood, “and perhaps it’s as well her senses are gone.  However, I’ll make a last effort to save the poor little creature, if it costs me my life.”

And, with this generous resolve, he shouted at the top of his voice, “Arrest! arrest! help! help!” seconding the words with a shrill and peculiar cry, well known at the time to the inhabitants of the quarter in which it was uttered.

In reply to this summons a horn was instantly blown at the corner of the street.

“Arrest!” vociferated Wood.  “Mint!  Mint!”

“Death and hell!” cried Rowland, making a furious pass at the carpenter, who fortunately avoided the thrust in the darkness; “will nothing silence you?”

“Help!” ejaculated Wood, renewing his cries.  “Arrest!”

“Jigger closed!” shouted a hoarse voice in reply.  “All’s bowman, my covey.  Fear nothing.  We’ll be upon the ban-dogs before they can shake their trotters!”

And the alarm was sounded more loudly than ever.

Another horn now resounded from the further extremity of the thoroughfare; this was answered by a third; and presently a fourth, and more remote blast, took up the note of alarm.  The whole neighbourhood was disturbed.  A garrison called to arms at dead of night on the sudden approach of the enemy, could not have been more expeditiously, or effectually aroused.  Rattles were sprung; lanterns lighted, and hoisted at the end of poles; windows thrown open; doors unbarred; and, as if by magic, the street was instantaneously filled with a crowd of persons of both sexes, armed with such weapons as came most readily to hand, and dressed in such garments as could be most easily slipped on.  Hurrying in the direction of the supposed arrest, they encouraged each other with shouts, and threatened the offending parties with their vengeance.