AFTER reaching the sidewalk Merwyn soon found a chance to mounta dry-goods box, that he might better observe the action of thepolice and form an idea of their numbers. The moment he saw theinsignificant band he felt that they were doomed men, or else thespirit abroad was not what he thought it to be, and he had beenwitnessing some strong indications of its ruthless nature.
It was characteristic of the young fellow that he did not rush tothe aid of the police. He was able, even in that seething floodof excitement, to reason coolly, and his thoughts were somethingto this effect: "I'm not going to throw away my life and all itschances and duties because the authorities are so ignorant as tosacrifice a score or two of their men. I shall not fight at all untilI have seen Marian and Mr. Vosburgh. When I have done something toinsure their safety, or at least to prove that I am not a coward,I shall know better what to do and how to do it. This outbreak isnot an affair of a few hours. She herself may be exposed to thefury of these fiends, for I believe her father is, or will be, amarked man."
Seeing, farther up the avenue, a small balcony as yet unoccupied,he pushed his way towards it, that he might obtain one more viewof the drift of affairs before taking his course. The hall-doorleading to the second story was open and filled with a crowd offrightened, unkempt women and children, who gave way before him.The door of the room opening on the balcony was locked, and, inresponse to his repeated knockings, a quavering voice asked whatwas wanted.
"You must open instantly," was his reply.
A trembling, gray-haired woman put the door ajar, and he pushedin at once, saying: "Bolt the door again, madam. I will do you noharm, and may be able to save you from injury;" and he was out inthe balcony before his assurances were concluded.
"Indeed, sir, I've done no one any wrong, and therefore need noprotection. I only wish to be let alone with my children."
"That you cannot expect with certainty, in view of what is goingon to-day. Do you not know that they are burning houses? As longas I'm here I'll be a protection. I merely wish the use of thislittle outlook for a brief time. So say nothing more, for I mustgive my whole attention to the fight."
"Well then, since you are so civil, you can stay; but the streetis full of devils."
He paid no heed to her further lamentations, and looking southwardsaw that the police had formed a line across the avenue, and thatsuch battered remnants of the invalid corps as had escaped werelimping off behind their cover as fast as possible. The presenceof the city's guardians had caused a brief hesitation in theapproaching and broken edge of the rabble. Seeing this the bravesergeant ordered a charge, which was promptly and swiftly made, themob recoiling before it more and more slowly as under pressure itbecame denser. There was no more effort to carry out the insane,rather than humane, tactics of the invalid corps, who had eitherfired high or used blank cartridges, for now the police struckfor life with their locust clubs, and the thud of the blows couldoften be heard even above the uproar. Every one within reach oftheir arms went down, and the majority lay quietly where they fell,as the devoted little band pressed slowly forward. With regretMerwyn saw Barney Ghegan among the foremost, his broad red facestreaming with perspiration, and he wielding his club as if it werethe deadliest of shillalahs.
They did indeed strike manfully, and proved what an adequate forcecould do. Rioters fell before them on every side. But hopelessreaping was theirs, with miles of solid, bloodthirsty humanitybefore them. Slowly and more falteringly they made their way threeblocks, as far as 46th Street, sustained by the hope of findingreinforcements there. Instead of these, heavier bodies of theenemy poured in from the side-streets upon the exhausted men, andthe mob closed behind them from 45th Street, like dark, surgingwaves. Then came a mad rush upon the hemmed-in officers, who wereattacked in front and in the rear, with clubs, iron-bars, guns,and pistols. Tom, bruised, bleeding, the force that had fought sogallantly broke, each man striking out for his own life. The vastheterogeneous crowd now afforded their chief chance for escape.Dodging behind numbers, taking advantage of the wild confusionof the swaying, trampling masses, and striking down some directopponent, a few got off with slight bruises. There were wonderfulinstances of escape. The brave sergeant who had led the squad hadhis left wrist broken by an iron bar, but, knocking down two otherassailants, he sprung into a house and bolted the door after him.An heroic German girl, with none of the stolid phlegm attributedto her race, lifted the upper mattress of her bed. The sergeantsprung in and was covered up without a word. There was no time thenfor plans and explanations. A moment later the door was broken,and a score of fierce-visaged men streamed in. Now the girl wasstolidity itself.
"Der cop run out der back door," was all that she could be made tosay in answer to fierce inquiries. Every apartment was examined invain, and then the roughs departed in search of other prey. Brave,simple-hearted girl! She would have been torn to pieces had herhumane strategy been discovered.
But a more memorable act of heroism was reserved for another woman,Mrs. Eagan, the wife of the man who had rescued Superintendent Kennedya short time before. A policeman was knocked down with a hay-balerung, and fell at her very feet. In a moment more he would havebeen killed, but this woman instantly covered his form with herown, so that no blow could reach him unless she was first struck.Then she begged for his life. Even the wild-beast spirit of the mobwas touched, and the pursuers passed on. A monument should havebeen built to the woman who, in that pandemonium of passion, couldso risk all for a stranger.
I am not defending Merwyn's course, but sketching a character. Hisspirit of strategical observation would have forsaken him had hewitnessed that scene, and indeed it did forsake him as he saw BarneyGhegan running and making a path for himself by the terrific blowsof his club. Three times he fell but rose again, with the sameindomitable pluck which had won his suit to pretty Sally Maguire.At last the brave fellow was struck down almost opposite the balcony.Merwyn knew the man was a favorite of the Vosburghs, and he couldnot bear that the brave fellow should be murdered before his veryeyes; yet murdered he apparently was ere Merwyn could reach thestreet. Like baffled fiends his pursuers closed upon the unfortunateman, pounding him and jumping upon him. And almost instantly thevile hags that followed the marauders like harpies, for the sakeof plunder began stripping his body.
"Stop!" thundered Merwyn, the second he reached the scene, and,standing over the prostrate form, he levelled a pistol at the throng."Now, listen to me," he added. "I don't wish to hurt anybody.You've killed this man, so let his body alone. I know his wife,an Irishwoman, and she ought at least to have his body for decentburial."
"Faix, an he's roight," cried one, who seemed a leader. "We'vekilled the man. Let his woife have what's left uv 'im;" and thecrowd broke away, following the speaker.
This was one of the early indications of what was provedafterwards,--that the mob was hydra-headed, following either itsown impulses or leaders that sprung up everywhere.
An abandoned express-wagon stood near, and into this Merwyn, withthe help of a bystander, lifted the insensible man. The young fellowthen drove, as rapidly as the condition of the streets permitted,to the nearest hospital. A few yards carried him beyond those whohad knowledge of the affair, and after that he was unmolested. Itwas the policy of the rioters to have the bodies of their friendsdisappear as soon as possible. Poor Ghegan had been stripped tohis shirt and drawers, and so was not recognized as a "cop."
Leaving him at the hospital, with brief explanations, Merwyn wasabout to hasten away, when the surgeon remarked, "The man is dead,apparently."
"I can't help it," cried Merwyn. "I'll bring his wife as soon aspossible. Of course you will do all in your power;" and he startedaway on a run.
A few moments later Barney Ghegan was taken to the dead-house.
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE "COWARD."