trusted to the healing balm of reason and affection. But I had no choice,

no power even of longer struggle; steps were heard along the gallery, and

the voice of the preacher drew near. Juliet, straining her child in a close

embrace, fled by another passage. Even then I would have followed her; but

my foe and his satellites entered; I was surrounded, and taken prisoner.

I remembered the menace of the unhappy Juliet, and expected the full

tempest of the man's vengeance, and the awakened wrath of his followers, to

fall instantly upon me. I was questioned. My answers were simple and

sincere. "His own mouth condemns him," exclaimed the impostor; "he

confesses that his intention was to seduce from the way of salvation our

well-beloved sister in God; away with him to the dungeon; to-morrow he dies

the death; we are manifestly called upon to make an example, tremendous and

appalling, to scare the children of sin from our asylum of the saved."

My heart revolted from his hypocritical jargon: but it was unworthy of me

to combat in words with the ruffian; and my answer was cool; while, far

from being possessed with fear, methought, even at the worst, a man true to

himself, courageous and determined, could fight his way, even from the

boards of the scaffold, through the herd of these misguided maniacs.

Remember," I said, "who I am; and be well assured that I shall not die

unavenged. Your legal magistrate, the Lord Protector, knew of my design,

and is aware that I am here; the cry of blood will reach him, and you and

your miserable victims will long lament the tragedy you are about to act."

My antagonist did not deign to reply, even by a look;--"You know your

512

The Last Man