w. We must hold the gate."

"I am not afraid," she said. "We can still fight."

He looked at her pale face in admiration, for the fire of resolution
glowed in her eyes.

"Yes," he muttered grimly, "we can still fight." And then, "Are there
any weapons here?"

"In the armory--come!" And she led the way up the stair. But as they
searched the Hall, Ena hobbled down the stone stairway from above,
shrieking, and threw herself at their feet. They could not make out
what she said, but Renwick rushed to the door and peered out toward the
postern. Upon the flagging, a figure lay motionless, and the other man
was nowhere to be seen. But worse than that, as though aware of their
advantage, in the causeway beyond, several men were advancing, bearing
another timber. Renwick's eye appraised the situation hurriedly and he
planned quickly, for delay would be fatal. As he reloaded the clip of
his automatic he ordered quickly.

"Marishka, I have a plan. There are two joists at the foot of the
stair--not very heavy. You and Ena must bring them up here. Then get
what loaded weapons you can. Bring them here, too. Lose no time. I will
return."

And leaving her, he dashed out of the door, and running to the right
gained the protection of the rampart, behind which he crawled toward the
gate. Where was the other man, the chauffeur, Karl?

In a moment he learned. For as Renwick approached, the men upon the
other side succeeded in spanning the abyss, and one of them rushed over.
When the man was halfway across, a shot rang out from the gate and the
man on the board swayed and fell. Another followed and another shot rang
out, but the man still came on.

Renwick, running forward, shouted a word of encouragement. He saw the
man Karl rise from his concealment and meet the fellow just as he
reached the gate, striking him a blow which made him lose his balance
and fall. Then he swung the end of the timber free and it fell into the
gorge as he sprang back to safety, but before he reached the protection
of the gate, several flashes darted from the causeway and the chauffeur
staggered and dropped forward upon his face just as Renwick reached him.

"Your orders, Herr Hauptmann," he gasped. "But they're too many--my
cartridges--are gone----" He turned with a groan, and for the first time
saw Renwick's face. "You----" he muttered. "You're not----?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. Are you badly hurt?"

"_Donnerweiter!_ Yes--through the breast--I'm