to meet their assailants.

"Mind the beams," Hector shouted, as with a sweeping side blow he
clove in the head of one opponent. But the warning came too late.
Paolo struck a downward blow, the axe caught the low beams of the
ceiling, and it flew from his hand. His opponent sprang upon him.
Paolo caught the man's right wrist as he struck at him with his
knife, and drew his own from his girdle. His assailant threw his
other arm round him, and, grappling, they fell on to the ground.
Hector could do nothing to assist him, for the other two men were
trying to circle round him, keeping beyond the swing of his axe but
watching for an opportunity to spring upon him. Keeping his back
against the wall he made feints against them. Presently one of the
men passed between him and the two antagonists struggling on the
ground. Suddenly they rolled over and over, coming in contact
with him from behind and almost throwing him over. Before he could
recover from the shock Hector's axe struck him below the ear.

The other man would have turned and made for the door, but Hector
knew that it was important that he should not escape and carry
the news to others of his party, who might be in the forest. He
therefore sprang after him, and before the wretch could open the
door struck him between the shoulders with his long knife. As he
did so Paolo sprung up with a shout.

"Thank God that you are alive, Paolo! I was afraid that he might
have killed you."

"No, no, master. I had him by the wrist too firmly for that, and
my knife did its work almost directly. But with those two fellows