hundred. Those who set it upon the rock so set it that not only the
near sea but the second gate could be covered by its fire. It would
sweep the water with a hail of lead, and leave unseen those that did
the work. And the irony of it was chiefly this, that Edmond Czerny,
seeking to defend the door of his house against all the world, now shut
it upon himself.

"Yes," said I, at last, and I spoke almost like a man drunk with
excitement; "give me shell for that, and we'll hold the gate against
five hundred!"

The hope of it set every nerve in my body twitching; sweat, I say,
began to roll down my face like rain.

"You have a magazine in this place," I continued, turning upon the
Italian in a way that surprised him; "you have arms in this house and
shot for that gun. Where are they, man, where are they?"

He stood stock-still with fright, and stammered out a broken reply.

"Excellency has the key, captain--I show you! Don't be angry, captain!"

He turned to enter the house again, and I followed him, as eager a man
as ever hunted for that which might take a fellow-creature's life.

"Do you, Peter and Dolly, keep a watch here," said I, indicating the
place, "while I go below with this man. We must hold the gate, lads,
hold it with our lives! If the two yonder come back, be sure you close
their mouths. You understand, Peter--close their mouths!"

"Aye, I understand, captain!" said he, very quietly. "They'll not sing
hymns when I've done with them!"

I followed the Italian down the stairs, and we made for the great hall
again. Many lights were burning there, and the figures of women passed
in and out of the splendid rooms. At the far corner, opposite Miss
Ruth's own apartment, the Italian came to a halt and began to gabble
again.

"Excellency live here, sir," said he; "the gun-room--you go right
through to him; but Excellency, he have the key. Me only doorman. I
speak true, sir!"

I opened the door of the room he indicated, and feeling upon the wall
switched on a lamp. It was the palace of a place, with great book-racks
all round it, and arm-chairs as long as beds in every corner, and
instruments and tables and pretty ornaments enough to furnish a
mansion; but for none of these things had I eyes that night. Yonder, at
the end of the room, a curtain opened above a door of iron; and through
that door I saw at a glance the way to the gun-room lay. Ah, how my
head tried to grapple with the trouble! The keys--where la