Here, put it on your finger." Mrs.Sheppard snatched back her hand from his grasp, and exerted all her force to repel his advances.
"Set down the kid," roared Blueskin, savagely.
"Mercy!" screamed Mrs.Sheppard, struggling to escape, and holding the infant at arm's length; "have mercy on this helpless innocent!" And the child, alarmed by the strife, added its feeble cries to its mother's shrieks.
"Set it down, I tell you," thundered Blueskin, "or I shall do it a mischief." "Never!" cried Mrs.Sheppard.
Uttering a terrible imprecation, Blueskin placed the knife between his teeth, and endeavoured to seize the poor woman by the throat.

In the struggle her cap fell off.

The ruffian caught hold of her hair, and held her fast.

The chamber rang with her shrieks.

But her cries, instead of moving her assailant's compassion, only added to his fury.