[_JASPER leaps through the window as DAN’L and a _Sergeant_, with four _Soldiers_, in Parliamentary uniform, enter at the door._ _Dan._ (_sees blaze of log fire_). Fire! fire! He has fired the hut--he has fired the hut! _Ser._ Nay, fool, ’tis but thy blazing hearth; thy hut’s safe enough. Where are thy prisoners? _Dan._ Oh, the reckless prodigal! see how he hath wasted my substance! _Ser._ There are no men hidden here. The sons of Belial have escaped. Why, thou hast betrayed us; and if so, thou shalt hang for it. (_2nd_ Soldier _mounts ladder to get into loft_.) _Dan._ They were here, but the noise of thy horses’ hoofs has alarmed them, and they are gone. I warned thee to tether thy beasts afar, and proceed silently. _1st Sol._ See, they are putting off from the beach. (_2nd_ Soldier _descends ladder and makes ready to fire_.) _Dan._ My boat, oh, my boat! _Ser._ Bring down the Philistines, Nahum; a steady shot under the fifth rib, and may the Lord have mercy on them! _1st Sol._ I will even smite them hip and thigh. (_He fires through the window._) Missed! (_Others fire outside._) Nay, they’re beyond range. May Heaven mercifully overwhelm them in the great waters! _Dan._ (_sees hole in floor_). Gone, gone! Sergeant, see; they are gone--they were hidden in here--and they’re gone! _Ser._ In there? Nay, there’s never room for two stout men in that cranny. _Dan._ Men? Curse the men! It’s my gold--my gold! they’ve stolen it; they’ve robbed me! Sixty golden pounds! all I had--all I had! and it’s gone! My child! my child! they’ve stolen my child! (_Weeps passionately on his knees._) _Ser._ Nay, man, see, thy child’s safe enough, and a bonny lass she be. (_Taking up child from behind table._) _Dan._ (_raising his head stupidly_). Eh? Why, what’s that? _Ser._ Thy child! Come, man, be thyself; the child’s safe enough. (_Places child on ground._) _Sol._ He’s crazed! _Dan._ (_stupefied_). That’s not mine. My gold is my child! The gold that the infernal villains have taken! _Ser._ Here’s a paper, and some words writ on it. _Dan._ Read--read--I cannot read. _Ser._ (_reads_). “Be kind to the child, and it shall profit thee. Grieve not for thy gold--it hath taken this form.” [_Music._ _Dan._ (_on his knees taking the child_). A miracle, a miracle! Down on your knees, down, I say, for Heaven has worked a miracle to save me. This money, for which I toiled night and day, and which I loved and worshipped, was to me as a child--a dear dear child. I prayed that this might be, but scoffers mocked me when I prayed, and said that the days of miracles were passed. But they lied, for my prayer has been hearkened to. See, it has _her_ eyes, _her_ eyes, my darling, my darling! My Heaven-sent bairn, thou hast brought me back to reason, to manhood, to life! (_The_ Soldiers _crowd round him. 1st_ Soldier _offers to touch the child_.) Hands off, hands off! (_All fall back._) Touch not the Lord’s gift! touch not the Lord’s gift!