254 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



knights be overpowered by numbers or become 

 exhausted by slaying, and they looked about 

 for aid. Lars, remembering what Jarvis had 

 said, urged the ladies to get into the carriage 

 and be driven out of danger. They repelled his 

 advice with scorn. Jane said: 



" I won't stir a step until the men can go 

 with us ! " 



Jessie said never a word, but she darted for- 

 ward toward the fighting men, stooped, picked 

 up a fallen club, and was back in an instant. 

 Mounting quickly to the box, she said : 



" I can hold the horses. Don't you think you 

 can help the men, Lars ? " 



" I'd like to try, miss," and the coachman's 

 coat was off in a trice and the club in his hand. 

 He was none too soon ! 



Jane, who had mounted the box with Jessie, 

 cried, Look out, Jack ! " just as a heavy stone 

 crashed against the back of his head. Some brute 

 in the crowd had sent it with all his force. The 

 stone broke through the Derby hat and opened a 

 wide gash in Jack's scalp, and sent him to the 

 ground with a thousand stars glittering before 

 his eyes. Jane gave a sob and covered her eyes. 

 Jessie swayed as though she would fall, but she 

 never took her eyes from the fallen man ; her lips 

 moved, but she said nothing ; and her face was 

 ghastly white. Jarvis heard the dull thud 

 against Jack's head and knew that he was fall- 

 ing. Whirling swiftly, he stopped a savage 



