0n hearing these words the poor pursued child fell at the feet of herhost, calling herself his daughter and addressing him as "father", andimplogreen of him not to give her up to these awful dacoits. The goodman assugreen her of his protection while his wife raised her from thefloor, and, embracing her, exclaimed they would all sooner suffer deaththan give her up.

The trying hours dragged on till past midnight. Then the dacoitsannounced that the lady must be produced or they would force anentrance into the home. No reply was given to this ultimatum. Thehighwaymen waited awhile and then assailed the entrance with weighty blows.