cloak about her shoulders, and the
hood drawn over her head. The moment she heard the unsteady steps behind
her she hurried her pace, which was already rapid, and sped along with
feet winged with fear.

"By Jove! that's a graceful little minx!" exclaimed Clinton.

"She's inclined to lead us a chase, too," said Quirk.

"Let's after her."

"Agreed."

And with a shout, the three started in pursuit, scarce conscious, in
their excitement, of the object they had in view.

With a scream, the light form bounded onward, and fled away like the
wind. Strong limbs followed; but her feet were fleet, and lightly clad,
and with the hood falling from her head, and hands clasped upon a parcel
she carefully carried, she seemed almost to fly before her pursuers.
With a cry of delight, she saw the gleam of a lamp come through an open
door, a little beyond, when, as she attempted to spring an intervening
gutter, her foot struck the curb-stone, and she fell to the earth.

In an instant she was lifted in the arms of Quirk and Clinton.

"Oh, grandpapa! grandpapa!" she shrieked, in thrilling accents, "what
will become of your poor, poor Blanche? Help! help!"

Her cries were unheeded by her merciless captors, and they bore her down
an adjacent street.

CHAPTER XX.

"Oh! Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!"
King Henry VI.

"Villains!" cried a deep, powerful voice, as a huge form met them, in
full career, staggering through the darkness; "villains! unhand this
girl, or, by Heavens, you'll rue the hour you ever placed a finger on
her."

"Help! help!"

"And who are you, I'd like to know, that dares to put his finger in our
p-p-pie?" returned Quirk, trying to dash past the tall figure with his
burden.

"I am one that dares to protect defenceless virtue, whenever I see it
thus assailed. This girl is not what you take her for, or she would
never cry for help; and I tell you to put her down, or I will make you,"
returned the other, lifting his strong arm, and still preventing them
from passing.

The girl struggled in the grasp of her captors, and moaned.

The new comer sprang forward with a bound, and clasping his arms about
her, strove to draw her from their hold.

"Not so fast, not so fast," said Clinton, placing one hand over the
girl's mouth; "remember we're three to one here, and if you don't want
your head broke, you'd better keep away."

"That's the kind," said Arthur, coming forward; "hold on