Ralph was told to bow his head upon the block. He did so, while Rose sang clear and strong:
"Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear----------"
The chief of the two priests, struck her heavily across the mouth and silenced her. At the same instant the executioner held aloft, by the hair, the severed head of Ralph Bastin.
Yells of delight, mingled with "Long live our God Apleon!" greeted the sight of the head.
George Bullen's head was now upon the block, while Rose, the light of a holy triumph in her eyes, unable to sing because of her bleeding mouth, shouted, "Jesus! Jesus! Precious Christ!"
She kept her eyes from the block, and turned slightly away, as the head of her dear one was held aloft amid the frantic delighted cries of the murderous mass below.
It was her turn now, and she turned rapturously towards the block. But before she could lay her head upon the blood-stained horror, the chief of the priests thrust her forward to the near edge of the floor of the scaffold, and, holding his hand up for silence, cried:
"Is she too beautiful for the block?"
He caught her up suddenly in his arms, and held her as high aloft as his strength would permit, as he shouted:
"Does any one want her, if you do, say so, and I will hurl her down!"