"Put your pistols in your belts, lads. Don't use them if you can
help it, but trust to your swords. Cut your way through that crowd.
Ride in at the gate, and dismount at the door leading up to the
turret. Then do you, Macpherson and Hunter, cover our rear while
we fight our way up the steps. Follow us as we go, and if you want
aid, shout and we will come down to you."

On hearing the sound of the galloping hoofs the peasants for a
moment made a movement of retreat, but when they saw that the six
horsemen were alone, they began to gather courage, and again waved
their arms, which were mostly axes, or poles to which scythes or
billhooks were attached. Riding three abreast, the horsemen burst
in among them, hewing and hacking with their swords; and the crowd,
unable to resist the impetus of the charge, opened a way for them,
and in a moment they had passed through the gate. A group of men
round an open door that marked the position of the turret stairs,
scattered with cries of alarm as they galloped up. In a moment
they sprang from their horses and entered the doorway. The stairs
were narrow, and but one man could mount and use his weapons at
a time. They were, however, densely packed with men.

Hector sprang up, closely followed by the others. The resistance
was feeble, for the height above the winding steps was but six
feet, and insufficient for the use of either axes or longer weapons.
Many of the peasants, astounded at seeing the armed men mounting
from below them, and wholly ignorant of their numbers, threw down
their weapons and cried for mercy. Hector contented himself with
pushing past them, and running his sword through any who showed
signs of resistance. One or two men armed with rough pikes made a
stand; these he shot, and pressed upwards until within some twenty