Their appetite was whetted by this morsel, and they immediately sought a full repast.
My own attitude was one of defiance.

In the _Freethinker_ of May 14 I denounced the bigots as cowards for pouncing on a comparatively obscure member of the Freethought party, and I challenged them to attack its leaders before they assailed the rank and file.

This challenge was cited against me on my own trial, but I do not regret it; and indeed I doubt if any man ever regretted that his sense of duty triumphed over his sense of danger..