Two brawny redcoats were striding across the wet field to where they stood.

They reeled as they walked, and set up a sort of Indian war-whoop on finding they were discovered.
"Don't you run away, my little dears," said one, "we're coming as fast as we can." "Oh, Kate!" cried Eeny, in terror, "what shall we do ?" "Let us go at once," said Kate, "those men are intoxicated." They started together over the fields, but the men's long strides gained upon them at every step.
"I say, my dear," hiccoughed one, laying his big hand on Kate's shoulder, "you musn't run away, you know.

By George! you're a pretty girl! give us a kiss!" He put his arms round her waist.

Only for an instant; the next, with all the blood of all the Dantons flushing her cheeks, she had sprung back and struck him a blow in the face that made him reel.

The blood started from the drunken soldier's nose, and he stood for a second stunned by the surprise blow; the next, with an imprecation, he would have caught her, but that something caught him from behind, and held him as in a vise.