ster.
He would kill me if I disobeyed, and besides that, I have taken a vow.
There is nothing here that you can want, Monsieur."

"There is shelter for the night to be had here, and that we mean to
have. We are on the business of the King, and I command you to open."

"I dare not, Monsieur. I should imperil my life and my soul. There is a
lodge in the forest a mile to the east, and the keeper will see to all
your wants: there is plenty of shelter, food for yourselves, hay for
your horses, everything you can need. Here all is dismantled and empty."

"Old man, you are lying. Unbar the gate in a moment, or your life will
indeed be in danger."

To this the "old man" gave no answer, except to come away from the gate
with the same simulated walk of an aged person.

I heard the horsemen discussing in low tones. Then, to my dismay, came
the sound of hoofs again, this time moving away. Now I was more than
ever minded to cry out, but my guards were ready to spring upon me with
their daggers. I might have sought this speedy death, but for the sudden
thought that the withdrawal of the royal guardsmen might be only
temporary.

I know not how many minutes passed. The sound of the horses had died out
for some time. I became sensible of the tramp of men's feet. Were the
guardsmen returning without their horses? Suddenly the red Captain's
voice arose in the court-yard:

"To the walls, you with firearms! Shoot them down as they try to batter
in the gate! All the rest, stand with me to kill them if they enter!"

The tramp of the guardsmen came swiftly near. I heard the reports of
muskets and pistols. There was a loud thud, as of some sort of ram--a
fallen branch or trunk from the forest--being borne powerfully against
the gate. This was answered by defiant, profane shouts and more loud
detonations. My guards in the passage groaned, exclaimed, and clenched
their weapons, mad to be in the fray. I could only listen and wait.

There was a second thud against the gate, amidst more cries and shots.
And soon came a third, the sound being this time prolonged into a crash
of timber. A shout of triumph from the invaders, a yell of execration
from the red Captain and his men, and the clash of steel, told that the
gate had given way.

"Follow close, gentlemen! Trust me to clear a path!" cried a hearty
voice, cheerful to the point of mirth, which thrilled my soul.

"Ay, follow him close!" cried the leader of the guardsmen; "follow the
swo