The next minute, we were rolling on the ground, but, as my mother for the moment was safe, I did not mind the blows I was getting, but returned them with a fire-iron that lay within reach.

I dealt blows with such a will that for a time I had the advantage, never ceasing to shout, "Never fear, mother! All's safe! he's on the wide sea.

Fly with the children and leave me to deal with these gentry." This so enraged them that they redoubled their violence; no wonder, then, that I was got down at last, bound hand and foot, and my feet made bare to receive the bastinado.

Before they laid it on, they put the question to me: "Wilt thou now, then, recant thine accursed doctrines ?" "What doctrines ?" said I, to gain time.
"Those that are falsely called reformed." "Oh yes, all that are falsely called reformed." They stood at pause on this, and looked at one another.
"He gives in," muttered one.
"Not a bit," replied another.

"He is only lying." "Well but, mark you, that's no matter of ours," said the first.
"I tell you it is!" roared the second, pushing him aside.