Planting his knee against her side, he pulled her towards him with one hand, while with the other he sought his knife.

The child was now within reach; and, in another moment, he would have executed his deadly purpose, if an arm from behind had not felled him to the ground.
When Mrs.Sheppard, who had been stricken down by the blow that prostrated her assailant, looked up, she perceived Jonathan Wild kneeling beside the body of Blueskin.

He was holding the ring to the light, and narrowly examining the inscription.
"Trenchard," he muttered; "Aliva Trenchard--they were right, then, as to the name.

Well, if she survives the accident--as the blood, who styles himself Sir Cecil, fancies she may do--this ring will make my fortune by leading to the discovery of the chief parties concerned in this strange affair." "Is the poor lady alive ?" asked Mrs.Sheppard, eagerly.
"'Sblood!" exclaimed Jonathan, hastily thrusting the ring into his vest, and taking up a heavy horseman's pistol with which he had felled Blueskin,--"I thought you'd been senseless." "Is she alive ?" repeated the widow.
"What's that to you ?" demanded Jonathan, gruffly.
"Oh, nothing--nothing," returned Mrs.Sheppard.

"But pray tell me if her husband has escaped ?" "Her husband!" echoed Jonathan scornfully.