ade. Wogan stamped upon it
with his heel and snapped the blade. He had still two opponents; and as
they advanced again he suddenly sprung onto the edge of the table, gave
one sweeping cut in a circle with his sword, and darted across the room.
The two men gave ground; Wogan passed between them. Before they could
strike at his back he was facing them again. He had no longer his
barricade, but on the other hand his shoulders were against the door.

The swordsman crossed blades with him, and at the first pass Wogan
realised with dismay that his enemy was a swordsman in knowledge as well
as in the possession of the weapon. He had a fencer's suppleness of
wrist and balance of body; he pressed Wogan hard and without flurry. The
blade of his sword made glittering rings about Wogan's, and the point
struck at his breast like an adder.

Wogan was engaged with his equal if not with his better. He was fighting
for his life with one man, and he would have to fight for it with two,
nay, with three. For over his opponent's shoulder he saw his first
polite antagonist cross to the table and pick up from the ground the
broken sword. One small consolation Wogan had; the fellow picked it up
with his left hand, his right elbow was still useless. But even that
consolation lasted him for no long time, for out of the tail of his eye
he could see the big fellow creeping up with his stick raised along the
wall at his right.

Wogan suddenly pressed upon his opponent, delivering thrust upon thrust,
and forced him to give ground. As the swordsman drew back, Wogan swept
his weapon round and slashed at the man upon his right. But the stroke
was wide of its mark, and the big man struck at the sword with his
stick, struck with all his might, so that Wogan's arm tingled from the
wrist to the shoulder. That, however, was the least part of the damage
the stick did. It broke Wogan's sword short off at the hilt.

Both men gave a cry of delight. Wogan dropped the hilt.

"I have a loaded pistol, my friends; you have forgotten that," he cried,
and plucked the pistol from his belt. At the same moment he felt behind
him with his left hand for the knob of the door. He fired at the
swordsman and his pistol missed, he flung it at the man with the stick,
and as he flung it he sprang to the right, threw open the door, darted
into the passage, and slammed the door to.

It was the work of a second. The men sprang at him as he opened the
door; as he slammed it clo