She was now thoroughly alarmed--her first impulse was to escape from the house--her next to bolt the door, and call aloud for assistance.

But who would hear her cries?
Between the two purposes, she halted irresolute...

and remained, pale and trembling, seated at the foot of the bed, when a broad light streamed through the chinks of the door--an instant more, and a rude hand seized her.
"Come, mem, don't be fritted, we won't harm you; but where's the gold-dust--where's the money ?--the old girl says you've got it.

Fork it over." "O mercy, mercy! John Walters, is that you ?" "Damnation!" muttered the man, staggering back; "so you knows me then; but you sha'n't peach; you sha'n't scrag me, b---t you." While he spoke, he again seized Alice, held her forcibly down with one hand, while with the other he deliberately drew from a side pouch a long case-knife.

In that moment of deadly peril, the second ruffian, who had been hitherto delayed in securing the servant, rushed forward.