CHAPTER IX.
THE HEAD OF ERASMUS.
Waiting, and waiting alone! The gates were almost down now.

The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.

Many grew tired, but others replaced them.

Tools broke, but they brought more and worked with savage energy.

They had shown at first a measure of prudence; looking to be fired on, and to be resisted by men, surprised, indeed, but desperate; and the bolder of them only had advanced.