As soon as they had passed through the crowd Hector gave the order
for his troops to face about, and they again burst their way
through the mob that had closed in behind them. Four times was the
manoeuvre repeated, the resistance growing fainter each time, as
the peasants found themselves unable to withstand the charge of
the disciplined troops. When for the fifth time they reached the
gate of the castle the crowd no longer pressed upon their rear,
but stood hesitatingly some fifty yards away. Hector took advantage
of the pause, and ordered his men, who were panting from their
exertions, to load again. He formed them in single line now.

"Don't fire a shot until I give the word," he said; "then pour in
your volley, fix bayonets instantly, and charge."

Standing in the shade as they did, the movement of loading
was unobserved by the peasants, who, as they saw the line again
advancing, prepared to meet them, but gave a yell of surprise when
a terrible volley was poured into them at a distance of twenty
yards. Then, before they had recovered from their surprise, the
long line was upon them with levelled bayonets. Only a few stood
their ground. These were instantly overthrown. The rest, throwing
away their weapons, fled in all directions.

"Thank God that is over!" Hector said, as he told the troops to halt
and reload. "If they had all been as courageous as their leader
they would have annihilated us, but each time we charged I observed
that a considerable number fell away on either flank, so that it
was not a solid mass through which we had to make our way. What
is our loss, Mieville?"