for I have done all in my power to mitigate the
sufferings of my people, and the proof is that not one of them has
joined you. The taxes that press so heavily upon you are not the work of
your feudal lords, they are caused by the necessity for defending France
against the assaults of foreign enemies, and were every noble in the
land slain it would still be necessary that these taxes should
be collected, unless France is to be overrun by the Spaniards and
Austrians. I would fain abstain from spilling one drop of your blood,
but I must defend myself if you attack me, and I warn you that, numerous
as you are, you will not succeed in capturing my castle. I am a soldier
of France, and as I have shed my blood in defending her against her
enemies, so if you persist I shall not hesitate in shedding yours in my
own defence. I implore you to disperse to your homes; even if you gain
successes for a time, it would but draw down vengeance upon you."

The assailants had paused when he commenced to speak, and those in front
had listened to his words, but those behind, not knowing what was going
on, continued to shout and to press up the hill. As he finished speaking
there was a yell of defiance, and the column rushed forward.

"Aim low," Hector shouted as he leapt down among his men, "fire!" Eight
muskets flashed out. "Second line, fire! Now handle your pikes, the rear
lines will reserve their fire."

Although ten or twelve of the leading rank of the insurgents had fallen,
there was no pause among the others, and they rushed forward to the
hedge of pikes.

"Take charge here, MacIntosh; I will run and get the stones at work." In
half a minute he stood by the side of the tenants.

"Heave then down!" he said. He had chosen a spot where the rock rose
perpendicularly above the road. "Drop them over," he said, "so that they
may fall straight. The biggest you must roll over with your levers, but
work them to the edge and let them topple over; don't thrust them out or
they will bound over the road. Now!"

Twenty rocks were dropped down together. Even above the din of shouting
the crash as they fell below was heard, followed instantly by yells and
cries.

"Move farther on and give them another shower," Hector said; and again
the rocks fell on the crowded causeway. The first volley had caused a
pause--numbers had been crushed, many of the stones as they rolled
down the road had carried confusion to those below; the second volley
complet