persuasive as the sweet wench that uttered it," said Thorg, springing
toward her.

Edith suddenly raised the pistol--an expression of deadly determination
upon her face.

Thorg as suddenly fell back. He was an abominable coward in addition to
his other qualities.

"Seize that girl! Seize and disarm her! What mean you, rascals? Are you
to be foiled by a girl? Seize and disarm her, I say! Are you men?"

Yes, they were men, and therefore, drunken and brutal as they were, they
hesitated to close upon one helpless girl.

"H--l fire and furies! surround! disarm her, I say!" vociferated Thorg.

Edith stood, her hand still grasping the pistol--her other one raised in
desperate entreaty.

"Oh! one moment! for heaven's sake, one moment! Still hear me! I would
not have fired upon your captain! Nor would I fire upon one of you, who
close upon me only at your captain's order. There is something within me
that shrinks from taking life! even the life of an enemy--any life but
my own, and that only in such a desperate strait as this. Oh! by the
mercy that is in my own heart, show mercy to me! You are men! You have
mothers, or sisters, or wives at home, whom you hope to meet again, when
war and its insanities are over. Oh! for their sakes, show mercy to the
defenseless girl who stands here in your power! Do not compel her to
shed her own blood! for, sure as you advance one step toward me, I pull