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rted at two o'clock in the morning on its long journey to town。 But my mother picked my corn just at the minute when she knew I was leaving my shop。 She husked it and put it in the pot； and by the time I had come home； had slipped up the board in the fence that served me for a door； and had washed my face and hands in my own room； she would have dished her dinner； would have put her fresh corn upon the table； covered with a pretty napkin； and so； as I say； I had a feast which no nabob in New York had。 No indeed； nor any king that I know of； unless it were the King of the Sandwich Islands； and I doubt if he were as well served as I。
So I became more calm and less careworn； though I will not say but sometimes I did look carefully to see if I could find the traces of a man's foot； but I never saw another。
Unless we went out somewhere during the evening； we went to bed early。 We rose early as well； for I never lost the habits of my apprenticeship。 And so we were both sound asleep in bed one night when a strange thing happened； and a sudden fright came to us； of which I must tell quite at length； for it made； indeed； a very sudden change in the current of our lives。
I was sound asleep； as I said； and so； I found； was my mother also。 But I must have been partly waked by some sudden noise in the street； for I knew I was sitting up in my bed in the darkness when I heard a woman scream；a terrible cry；and while I was yet startled； I heard her scream again； as if she were in deadly fear。 My window was shaded by a heavy green curtain； but in an instant I had pulled it up； and by the light of the moon I seized my trousers and put them on。
I was well awake by this time； and when I flung open the door of my house； so as to run into my garden； I could hear many wild voices； some in English； some in German； some in Irish； and some with terrible cries； which I will not pretend I could understand。
There was no cry of a woman now； but only the howling of angry or drunken men； when they are in a rage with some one or with each other。 What startled me was that； whereas the woman's cry came from the street south of me； which I have called Fernando Street； the whole crowd of men； as they howled and swore； were passing along that street rapidly； and then stopped for an instant； as if they were coming up what I called Church Alley。 There must have been seven or eight of them。
Now； it was by Church Alley that my mother and I always came into our house； and so into our garden。 In the eight years； or nearly so； that I had lived there； I had by degrees accumulated more and more rubbish near the furthest end of the alley as a screen； so to speak； that when my mother or I came in or out； no one in the street might notice us。 I had even made a little wing…fence out from my own； to which my hand…cart was chained。 Next this I had piled broken brickbats and paving…stones； and other heavy things； that would not be stolen。 There was the stump and the root of an old pear…tree there； too heavy to steal； and too crooked and hard to clean or saw。 There was a bit of curbstone from the street； and other such trash； which quite masked the fence and the hand… cart。
On the other sidethat is； the church side； or the side furthest from the streetwas the sliding…board in the fence； where my mother and I came in。 So soon as it was slid back； no man could see that the fence was not solid。
At this moment in the night； however； when I found that this riotous； drunken crew were pausing at the entrance of Church Alley； as doubting if they would not come down； I ran back through the passage； knocking loudly for my mother as I passed； and coming to my coal…bin； put my eye at the little hole through which I always reconnoitred before I slid the door。 I could see nothing； nor at night ought I to have expected to do so。
But I could hear； and I heard what I did not expect。 I could hear the heavy panting of one who had been running； and as I listened I heard a gentle； low voice sob out； 〃Ach； ach； mein Gott！ Ach； mein Gott！〃 or words that I thought were these； and I was conscious； when I tried to move the door； that some one was resting close upon it。
All the same； I put my shoulder stoutly to the cross… bar； to which the boards of the door were nailed； I slid it quickly in its grooves； and as it slid； a woman fell into the passage。
She was wholly surprised by the motion； so that she could not but fall。 I seized her and dragged her in； saying； 〃Hush； hush； hush！〃 as I did so。 But not so quick was I but that she screamed once more as I drew to the sliding…door and thrust in the heavy bolt which held it。
In an instant my mother was in the passage with a light in her hand。 In another instant I had seized the light and put it out。 But that instant was enough for her and me to see that here was a lovely girl； with no hat or bonnet on； with her hair floating wildly； both her arms bleeding； and her clothes all stained with blood。 She could see my mother's face of amazement； and she could see my finger on my mouth； as with the other I dashed out the candle。 We all thought quickly； and we all knew that we must keep still。
But that unfortunate scream of hers was enough。 Though no one of us all uttered another sound； this was like a 〃view…halloo；〃 to bring all those dogs down upon us。 The passage was dark； and； to my delight； I heard some of them breaking their shins over the curbstone and old pear…tree of my defences。 But they were not such hounds as were easily thrown off the scent； and there were enough to persevere while the leaders picked themselves up again。
Then how they swore and cursed and asked questions！ And we three stood as still as so many frightened rabbits。 In an instant more one of them； who spoke in English； said he would be hanged if he thought she had gone into the church； that he believed she had got through the fence； and then； with his fist； or something harder； he began trying the boards on our side； and others of them we could hear striking those on the other side of the alley…way。
When it came to this； I whispered to my mother that she must never fear； only keep perfectly still。 She dragged the frightened girl into our kitchen； which was our sitting…room； and they both fell； I know not how； into the great easy…chair。
For my part； I seized the light ladder； which always hung ready at the door； and ran with it at my full speed to the corner of Fernando Street and the alley。 I planted the ladder； and was on the top of the fence in an instant
Then I sprang my watchman's rattle； which had hung by the ladder； and I whirled it round well。 It wholly silenced the sound of the swearing fellows up the passage； and their pounding。 When I found they were still； I cried out：
〃This way； 24！ this way； 47！ I have them all penned up here！ Signal the office； 42； and bid them send us a sergeant。 This way； fellowsup Church Alley！〃
With this I was down my ladder again。 But my gang of savages needed no more。 I could hear them rushing out of the alley as fast as they might； not one of them waiting for 24 or 47。 This was lucky for me； for as it happened I was ten minutes older before I heard two patrolmen on the o