ome, as we have already said,
to bring Marshal Simon's daughters to their grandfather. Arriving in the
midst of the tumult, the soldier had collected a few workmen to defend
the entrance of the chamber, to which the marshal's father had been
carried in a dying state. It was from this post that the soldier had
seen Agricola's danger. Soon after, the rush of the conflict separated
Dagobert from the quarryman, who remained for some moments insensible.
Arrived in two bounds at the Common Dwelling-house, Agricola succeeded
in forcing his way through the men who defended the staircase, and
rushed into the corridor that led to Angela's chamber. At the moment he
reached it, the unfortunate girl was mechanically guarding her face with
both hands against Ciboule, who, furious as the hyena over its prey, was
trying to scratch and disfigure her.

To spring upon the horrible hag, seize her by her yellow hair with
irresistible hand, drag her backwards, and then with one cuff, stretch
her full length upon the ground, was for Agricola an achievement
as rapid as thought. Furious with rage, Ciboule rose again almost
instantly; but at this moment, several workmen, who had followed close
upon Agricola, were able to attack with advantage, and whilst the smith
lifted the fainting form of Angela, and carried her into the next room,
Ciboule and her band were driven from that part of the house.

After the first fire of the assault, the small number of real Wolves,
who, as Agricola said, were in the main honest fellows, but had the
weakness to let themselves be drawn into this enterprise, under the
pretext of a quarrel between rival unions, seeing the excesses committed
by the rabble who accompanied them, turned suddenly round, and ranged
themselves on the side of the Devourers.

"There are no longer here either Wolves or Devourers," said one of
the most determined Wolves to Olivier, with whom he had been fighting
roughly and fairly; "there are none here but honest workmen, who must
unite to drive out a set of scoundrels, that have come only to break and
pillage."

"Yes," added another; "it was against our will that they began by
breaking your windows."

"The big blaster did it all," said another; "the true Wolves wash their
hands of him. We shall soon settle his account."

"We may fight every day--but we ought to esteem each other."(35)

This defection of a portion of the assailants (unfortunately but a
small portion) gave new spirit to