Close to me — driven past me by the struggle of many fighters —
came the Antwerp burgess with the scarce-healed scar upon his face;
and in an instant more, he was thrown by the press upon the
Austrian officer Gisborne, and ere either had recovered the shock,
the burgess had recognised his opponent.
'Ha! the Englishman Gisborne!' he cried, and threw himself upon
him with redoubled fury. He had struck him hard — the Englishman
was down; when out of the smoke came a dark-grey figure, and threw
herself right under the uplifted flashing sword. The burgess's arm
stood arrested. Neither Austrians nor Anversois willingly harmed
the Poor Clares.
'Leave him to me!' said a low stern voice. 'He is mine enemy —
mine for many years.'
Those words were the last I heard. I myself was struck do
