he two flagons of hot beer, which were set down
on the table before them. The room was lighted only by a torch stuck in
a cresset on the wall, and Hector had purposely seated himself as far
from this as possible. Paolo took up his mug, raised it to his lips, and
then set it down again with a sudden cry.

"I am afraid that you will not be able to take it," Hector said aloud.

"What is the matter with your comrade?" the landlord asked.

"He has a terrible abscess in his jaw, and is unable to speak or to
swallow."

The landlord took the torch from its place and walked over and looked at
Paolo's cheek. "There is no mistake about that," he said. "It is indeed
a terrible swelling, and the cheek looks almost raw."

"He has put liniments on it," Hector said, "but they seem to have done
him harm rather than good. However, he is not so bad as he was, and I
hope that the abscess will break ere long."

The landlord fastened the torch up again, and said in a low tone to the
other men: "There is no doubt about his face being bad." As he turned
away from the table he stood between Hector and the other men, and the
former seized the opportunity of pouring the contents of his mug against
the wall by his knee, knowing that as the floor was of earth it would
soak it up at once. From time to time he lifted the mug to his lips,
until he apparently drained it. Then half closing his eyes he leant up
against the corner. Paolo had already laid his head down on the table,
and after a time both breathed heavily and regularly. Half an hour later
one of the men rose noiselessly and left the room. Two or three minutes
afterwards he returned with the host, the man who had gone out before,
and two others.

"Seven against two," Hector thought to himself. "However, we shall have
the advantage of a surprise." He touched Paolo with his foot to assure
himself that he had not really gone off to sleep, but the responsive
movement showed that he also was on his guard. The man who had first
left the room and one of the others drew their long knives and stepped
quietly forward, while the others, also with bared weapons, prepared
to support them if necessary. Hector waited until the two leaders were
close, then he exclaimed sharply, "Now!" at the same moment throwing
forward his hand with the pistol. Two reports rang out at the same
moment, and the men pitched heavily forward. A yell of surprise and
fury broke from the others, but ere they could step over