“Indeed, sir, I’ve done no one any wrong, and therefore need no protection.  I only wish to be let alone with my children.”

“That you cannot expect with certainty, in view of what is going on to-day.  Do you not know that they are burning houses?  As long as I’m here I’ll be a protection.  I merely wish the use of this little outlook for a brief time.  So say nothing more, for I must give my whole attention to the fight.”

“Well then, since you are so civil, you can stay; but the street is full of devils.”

He paid no heed to her further lamentations, and looking southward saw that the police had formed a line across the avenue, and that such battered remnants of the invalid corps as had escaped were limping off behind their cover as fast as possible.  The presence of the city’s guardians had caused a brief hesitation in the approaching and broken edge of the rabble.  Seeing this the brave sergeant ordered a charge, which was promptly and swiftly made, the mob recoiling before it more and more slowly as under pressure it became denser.  There was no more effort to carry out the insane, rather than humane, tactics of the invalid corps, who had either fired high or used blank cartridges, for now the police struck for life with their locust clubs, and the thud of the blows could often be heard even above the uproar.  Every one within reach of their arms went down, and the majority lay quietly where they fell, as the devoted little band pressed slowly forward.  With regret Merwyn saw Barney Ghegan among the foremost, his broad red face streaming with perspiration, and he wielding his club as if it were the deadliest of shillalahs.

They did indeed strike manfully, and proved what an adequate force could do.  Rioters fell before them on every side.  But hopeless reaping was theirs, with miles of solid, bloodthirsty humanity before them.  Slowly and more falteringly they made their way three blocks, as far as 46th Street, sustained by the hope of finding reinforcements there.  Instead of these, heavier bodies of the enemy poured in from the side-streets upon the exhausted men, and the mob closed behind them from 45th Street, like dark, surging waves.  Then came a mad rush upon the hemmed-in officers, who were attacked in front and in the rear, with clubs, iron-bars, guns, and pistols.  Tom, bruised, bleeding, the force that had fought so gallantly broke, each man striking out for his own life.  The vast heterogeneous crowd now afforded their chief chance for escape.  Dodging behind numbers, taking advantage of the wild confusion of the swaying, trampling masses, and striking down some direct opponent, a few got off with slight bruises.  There were wonderful instances of escape.  The brave sergeant who had led the squad had his left wrist broken by an iron bar, but, knocking down two other assailants, he sprung into a house and bolted the door after him.  An heroic German girl, with none of the stolid phlegm attributed to her race, lifted the upper mattress of her bed.  The sergeant sprung in and was covered up without a word.  There was no time then for plans and explanations.  A moment later the door was broken, and a score of fierce-visaged men streamed in.  Now the girl was stolidity itself.