She obeyed--I marvel now to think of it--but she implicitly obeyed.

Only I heard her fix the bar to the closed front door, and go back, with a strange, sharp sob, to her station at the hall-window.
"Now, my lads, come in!" and he unlocked the gate.
They came thronging up the steps, not more than two score, I imagined, in spite of the noise they had made.

But two score of such famished, desperate men, God grant I may never again see! John divided the food as well as he could among them; they fell to it like wild beasts.

Meat, cooked or raw, loaves, vegetables, meal; all came alike, and were clutched, gnawed, and scrambled for, in the fierce selfishness of hunger.

Afterwards there was a call for drink.
"Water, Jael; bring them water." "Beer!" shouted some.
"Water," repeated John.