er this.

Dashing from street to street, unattended even by his dragoons,
Peterborough came upon a lady and gentleman struggling with the mob, who
were about to ill treat them. He charged into the thick of the tumult.

His hat had been lost in the fray, and the mob, not recognizing the
strange figure as the redoubted English general, resisted, and one
discharged a musket at him at a distance of a few feet, but the ball
passed through his periwig without touching the head under it.

Fortunately two or three of his dragoons now rode up, and he was able
to carry the lady and gentleman to their house hard by, when, to his
satisfaction, he found that the gentleman he had saved was the Duke of
Popoli, and the lady his wife, celebrated as one of the most beautiful
women in Europe.

Jack Stilwell had soon after they entered the town become separated from
his general. Seeing a mob gathered before a house in a side street, and
hearing screams, he turned off and rode into the middle of the crowd.
Spurring his horse and making him rear, he made his way through them to
the door, and then leaping off, drawing as he did so a pistol from his
holster, he ran upstairs.

It was a large and handsomely furnished house. On the first floor was a
great corridor. A number of men were gathered round a doorway. Within he
heard the clashing of steel and the shouts of men in conflict. Bursting
his way in through the doorway he entered the room.

In a corner, at the furthest end, crouched a lady holding a little boy
in her arms. Before her stood a Spanish gentleman, sword in hand. A
servant, also armed, stood by him. They were hard pressed, for six or
eight men with swords and pikes were cutting and thrusting at them.
Three servants lay dead upon the ground, and seven or eight of the
townspeople were also lying dead or wounded. Jack rushed forward,
and with his pistol shot the man who appeared to be the leader of the
assailants, and then, drawing his sword, placed himself before the
gentleman and shouted to the men to lay down their arms. The latter,
astounded at the appearance of an English officer, drew back. Seeing he
was alone, they would, however, have renewed the attack, but Jack ran to
the window and opened it, and shouted as if to some soldiers below.

The effect was instantaneous. The men dropped upon their knees, and
throwing down their arms begged for mercy. Jack signified that he
granted it, and motioned to them to carry off their