The scene that ensued is neither to be described nor believed if it
were. I was momently surrounded by a number of hideous fiends,
who gnashed on me with their teeth, and clenched their crimson
paws in my face; and at the same instant I was seized by the
collar of my coat behind, by my dreaded and devoted friend, who
pushed me on and, with his gilded rapier waving and brandishing
around me, defended me against all their united attacks. Horrible
as my assailants were in appearance (and they all had monstrous
shapes) I felt that I would rather have fallen into their hands than
be thus led away captive by my defender at his will and pleasure
without having the right or power to say my life, or any part of
my will, was my own. I could not even thank him for his potent
guardianship, but hung down my head, and moved on I knew not
whither, like a criminal led to execution and still the infernal
combat continued till about the dawning, at which time I looked
up, and all the fiends were expelled but one, who kept at a
distance; and still my persecutor and defender pushed me by the
neck before him.
At length he desired me to sit down and take some rest, with
which I complied, for I had great need of it, and wanted the
power to withstand what he desired.
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