I was overjoyed to find the enemy intimidated at least by
the first fire. Another volley, and another succeeded, until even the
sceptical Gilbert was dismayed. My uncle seemed riveted to the spot, his
hands widely disparted, so that the flame and its destined prey were now
pretty far asunder. Neither of the culprits spoke; and I hoped that
little more would be necessary to rout them fairly from the field. As
yet they did not seem disposed to move; and I was afraid of a rally,
should reason get the better of their fears.
"Rats! rats!" shouted Gilbert. "We'll singe their tails for them." The
scratching ceased. Again the paper was approaching to its dreaded
catastrophe.
"_Beware!_" I cried, in a deep and sepulchral tone, that startled even
the utterer. What effect it had produced on my auditory I was left alone
to conjecture. The candle dropped from the incendiary's grasp, and the
spoil was left a prey to the bugbear that possessed their imaginations.
With feelings of unmixed delight, I heard them clear the stairs at a few
leaps, run through the hall, and soon afterwards a terrific bellow from
Gilbert announced their descent into the avenue.
Pages:
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802