Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/220

194 “Do not pay any more attention to them, Jan, lest they begin to be wordy and attract  more attention to themselves and us than is  desirable!” said Van der Werf. But a crowd had already begun to gather, which  in an incredibly short time grew into a mob,  shouting, yelling, gesticulating, fiercely demanding bread and the opening of the gates. The burgomaster began to fear, not for his own life, but for that of the feeble old man  who would be so helpless in their hands did  they come at last to violence. Just at this crisis, they emerged into the triangular space  in front of the old church of St. Pancras.

Deeming the time ripe for him to exert all his powers of persuasion on this threatening  throng. Van der Werf ascended the steps of the edifice, placed Jan in a protecting angle  of the doorway, and turned about to face the  crowd. As he removed his great felt hat, the morning sunlight fell through the surrounding lime-trees on a face, calm, imposing  and softened with a great and overwhelming