gasped. "The gates shall not
be unlocked! Dost hear, child? They shall not be unlocked! We shall
have the whole horde upon us, we poor unprotected women! Kate, come
back, come back! The keys are mine; I am mistress here! It shall
not be done! Girl, I will not be thus defied!"

But Kate was already half through the hall, where the terrified
servants were mustering. She had seized up the matchlocks, and now
thrust one of them into old Thomas's shaking hands.

"Take it!" she said, "and when I am gone lock and bolt the door
behind me an your lady desires it. But I will not disobey my Lady
Humbert, and she would have done as I do now. I go to the gate and
I hold it open. I draw within its shelter the pursued, and I strive
to close it against the pursuers. All within these walls will be
safe.

"Thy place is here, Thomas, beside thy mistress. She will die with
terror if thou leave her. I am strong enough to unbar the gates
alone, and I have this weapon, which I know how to use.

"Hark! there be cries along the road. The pursuit draws nigh."

Kate flung open the great door and sprang out into the dusky
darkness beyond, and Petronella and Cherry, casting one glance at
each other, caught up a gleaming weapon from the wall, where many
hung, and dashed out after her.

"Shut and lock the door behind us, an you fear for yourselves!"
cried Kate, as she led the way down the short flight of steps.

"Girls!" she cried, turning her flushed and resolute face upon her
companions, "we three will stand together for weal or woe this
night. It may be that we shall save life. We can but lose our own,
come what may. Are you ready to face the peril? for these gates
must be unbarred."

"We are ready," answered both, as they stood beside her holding her
weapon, whilst her strong young hands turned the ponderous key in
the lock and slipped back the heavy bolts.

All this while the thundering thud of galloping horse hoofs was
approaching nearer and nearer, mingling with the fierce vindictive
shouts of the pursuers, that sent thrills of terror through the
hearts of two of the girls, but made Kate set her teeth together,
and braced her nerves and muscles till they felt as if turned to
steel.

"Girls," she said, "listen! I open this gate--so, and stand here
with my weapon. As the pursued make for this house, as they most
surely will, I shout to them as they near it to fling themselves
from their horses and rush in. If they understand, they