that he
would acquaint Don Rebiera with our arrival--let us prove to him that he
is too late."

"It would not be a bad plan," replied Gascoigne; "if it were possible
that these fellows had any gratitude among them, some of them might
relent at the idea of attacking those who saved them."

"Not a bit; but it will prove to them that there are more in the house
than they think for; and we can frighten some of them by telling them
that the soldiers are near at hand."

Jack immediately threw up the casement, and called out in a loud voice,
"Don Silvio! galley-slave! Don Silvio!"

The party hailed turned round, and beheld Jack, Gascoigne, and Mesty,
standing at the window of the upper floor.

"We have saved you the trouble of announcing us," called out Gascoigne.
"We are here to receive you."

"And in three hours the troops will be here, so you must be quick, Don
Silvio," continued Jack.

"_A reveder la_," continued Gascoigne, letting fly his pistol at Don
Silvio.

The window was then immediately closed. The appearance of our heroes,
and their communication of the speedy arrival of the troops, was not
without effect. The criminals trembled at the idea; Don Silvio was mad
with rage--he pointed out to the men the necessity of immediate attack--
the improbability of the troops arriving so soon, and the wealth which
he expected was locked up by Don Rebiera in his mansion. This rallied
them, and they advanced to the doors, which they attempted to force
without success, losing several men by the occasional fire from those
within the house. Finding their efforts, after half an hour's repeated
attempts, to be useless, they retreated, and then bringing up a long
piece of timber, which required sixty men to carry it, they ran with it
against the door, and the weight and impetus of the timber drove it off
its hinges, and an entrance was obtained. By this time it was dark, the
lower story had been abandoned, but the barricade at the head of the
stairs opposed their progress. Convenient loop-holes had been prepared
by the defenders, who now opened a smart fire upon the assailants, the
latter having no means of returning it effectually, had they had
ammunition for their muskets, which fortunately they had not been able
to procure. The combat now became fierce, and the galley-slaves were
several times repulsed with great loss during a contest of two hours;
but, encouraged by Don Silvio, and refreshed by repeated draughts