Renwick struggled painfully to his feet.

"Nor I. He almost did for me. If it hadn't been for you----"

"You'd have followed him, Hugh!" And then almost inaudibly, "Holy
Virgin!" she whispered.

Renwick moved his limbs to be sure that they were sound.

"Close thing, that," he muttered. "Beastly close."

CHAPTER XXVII

BESIEGED

So desperate had been the struggle that they had forgotten the peril of
the drawbridge. Shots had already been fired in the courtyard but they
had not heard them. Now, as an awed silence fell upon them, at the
passing of Goritz and at their relief from immediate danger, they were
suddenly aware of the sounds of commotion outside near at hand, the
sharp crack of small arms, the cries of men and the booming of the
postern bell--calling Goritz--who would never come!

Renwick staggered to the window over the courtyard, Marishka's hand in
his, and peered out. Somewhere a great fire was burning, for overhead
the sky was copper-colored with its reflections, and below they saw
dimly two figures crouching in the shadow of the postern gate. As they
looked, three men emerged from the wall of the causeway, carrying a
timber with which they approached the abyss, but as they neared the edge
a flash darted from the postern and the foremost man fell. The others,
with a rush, tried to cast an end of the heavy plank across the
intervening space, but it fell short and went crashing down into the
void below.

"They may be able to hold out for a time," whispered Renwick, "long
enough to let us get away--come, Marishka--the ropes!"

He took the candle, and she opened the door into the corridor which led
to the keep. Outside they met the old woman Ena, who was crouched upon
the floor by a window, wringing her hands, half dead with fear. But she
started up at the sight of Renwick, who led the way, and then looked in
astonishment at Marishka.

"Who----?" she gasped, and paused.

"A friend, Ena," said Marishka. "Do not fear."

But she still regarded Renwick in terror, for his appearance,
disheveled, torn and bloody, was not one to inspire confidence.

"The Herr Hauptmann----!"

"He is dead," said Marishka quietly.

"Dead! _Herr Gott!_" And she shrank back into her corner, her head in
her hands.

But there was no time to delay. Renwick hurried Marishka down the stone
stairway to the Hall, whence they descended to a lower floor to the
storeroom.

It was filled with a conglomeration of dusty o