16 KING ALFRED AND THE CAKES.
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Haste! claim the sum the posters advertise,
For Guthrum’s head in yonder coal-hole lies.
[ The coal-hole is suddenly opened from within, and GuTH-

RUM walks out, alive, and appearing in excellent health

and spirits.
Guthrum !—alive!
GUTH. Yes, for a short time more ;
I was but stunn’d against the bakehouse floor;
And, by a very wondrous piece of fort’n’—
Instead of me, you only stabb’d this quart’n.

 

[Producing the quartern loaf which he had concealed under
his smock-frock ; by means of which, to the intense
astonishment of the audience, his life has been saved.

ALF. The staff of life, then, warded off my blows ?
Ah, well! You must be pardon’d, I suppose.