He had not been long there, when
he was suddenly seized from behind; 'I shall have you now,' said he,
and turned about. 'Shall you so, master?' answered the ruffian, who
had laid hold of him; 'we shall make you play at another sort of
game by and by.'"--At these words Harley started with a convulsive
sort of motion, and grasping Edwards's sword, drew it half out of
the scabbard, with a look of the most frantic wildness. Edwards
gently replaced it in its sheath, and went on with his relation.
"On hearing these words in a strange voice, we all rushed out to
discover the cause; the room by this time was almost full of the
gang. My daughter-in-law fainted at the sight; the maid and I ran
to assist her, while my poor son remained motionless, gazing by
turns on his children and their mother. We soon recovered her to
life, and begged her to retire and wait the issue of the affair; but
she flew to her husband, and clung round him in an agony of terror
and grief.
"In the gang was one of a smoother aspect, whom, by his dress, we
discovered to be a serjeant of foot: he came up to me, and told me,
that my son had his choice of the sea or land service, whispering at
the same time that, if he chose the land, he might get off, on
procuring him another man, and paying a certain sum for his freedom.
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