Undaunted, however, by this mishap, he had clung to it with wonderful tenacity, until it had again caused a disaster the noise of which had brought all parties into the room where it had occurred.
The light being brought, Master Kinch crawled out from under a table with his head and back covered with batter, a pan of which had been overturned upon him, in consequence of his having been tripped up by his sword and falling violently against the table on which it stood.
"I said you had better take that skewer off," exclaimed Caddy: "It's a wonder it hasn't broke your neck before now; but you are such a goose you would wear it," said she, surveying her aide-de-camp with derision, as he vainly endeavoured to scrape the batter from his face.
"Please give me some water," cried Kinch, looking from one to the other of the laughing group: "help a feller to get it off, can't you--it's all in my eyes, and the yeast is blinding me." The only answer to this appeal was an additional shout of laughter, without the slightest effort for his relief.

At last Caddy, taking compassion upon his forlorn condition, procured a basin of water, and assisted him to wash from his woolly pate what had been intended for the next day's meal.
"This is the farce after what was almost a tragedy," said Mr.Walters, as they ascended the stairs again; "I wonder what we shall have next!" They all returned to their chairs by the drawing-room fire after this occurrence, and remained in comparative silence for some time, until loud cries of "Fire! fire!" startled them from their seats.
"The whole of the lower part of the city appears to be in a blaze," exclaimed one of the party who had hastened to the window; "look at the flames--they are ascending from several places.

They are at their work; we may expect them here soon." "Well, they'll find us prepared when they do come," rejoined Mr.Walters.
"What do you propose ?" asked Mr.Ellis.

"Are we to fire on them at once, or wait for their attack ?" "Wait for their attack, by all means," said he, in reply;--"if they throw stones, you'll find plenty in that room with which to return the compliment; if they resort to fire-arms, then we will do the same; I want to be strictly on the defensive--but at the same time we must defend ourselves fully and energetically." In about an hour after this conversation a dull roar was heard in the distance, which grew louder and nearer every moment.
"Hist!" said Esther; "do you hear that noise?
Listen! isn't that the mob coming ?" Mr.Walters opened the shutter, and then the sound became more distinct.

On they came, nearer and nearer, until the noise of their voices became almost deafening.
There was something awful in the appearance of the motley crowd that, like a torrent, foamed and surged through the streets.