CHAPTER XXXI. HOW FIVE MEN HELD THE KEEP OF VILLEFRANCHE

UndertheguidanceoftheFrenchsquirethepartypasseddowntwonarrowcorridors.Thefirstwasempty,butattheheadofthesecondstoodapeasantsentry,whostartedoffatthesightofthem,yellingloudlytohiscomrades.“Stophim,orweareundone!”criedDuGuesclin,andhadstartedtorun,whenAylward'sgreatwar-bowtwangedlikeaharp-string,andthemanfellforwarduponhisface,withtwitchinglimbsandclutchingfingers.Withinfivepacesofwherehelayanarrowandlittle-useddoorledoutintothebailey.FrombeyonditcamesuchaBabelofhootingandscreaming,horribleoathsandyetmorehorriblelaughter,thatthestoutestheartmighthaveshrunkfromcastingdownthefrailbarrierwhichfacedthem. “Makestraightforthekeep!”saidDuGuesclin,inasharp,sternwhisper.“Thetwoarchersinfront,theladyinthecentre,asquireoneitherside,whilewethreeknightsshallbidebehindandbeatbackthosewhopressuponus.So!Nowopenthedoor,andGodhaveusinhisholykeeping!” Forafewmomentsitseemedthattheirobjectwouldbeattainedwithoutdanger,soswiftandsosilenthadbeentheirmovements.Theywerehalf-wayacrossthebaileyerethefrantic,howlingpeasantsmadeamovementtostopthem.Thefewwhothrewthemselvesintheirwaywereoverpoweredorbrushedaside,whilethepursuerswerebeatenbackbythereadyweaponsofthethreecavaliers.Unscathedtheyfoughttheirwaytothedoorofthekeep,andfacedroundupontheswarmingmob,whilethesquirethrustthegreatkeyintothelock. “MyGod!”hecried,“itisthewrongkey.” “Thewrongkey!” “Dolt,foolthatIam!Thisisthekeyofthecastlegatetheotheropensthekeep.Imustbackforit!”Heturned,withsomewildintentionofretracinghissteps,butattheinstantagreatjaggedrock,hurledbyabrawnypeasant,struckhimfullupontheear,andhedroppedsenselesstotheground. “Thisiskeyenoughforme!”quothHordleJohn,pickingupthehugestone,andhurlingitagainstthedoorwithallthestrengthofhisenormousbody.Thelockshivered,thewoodsmashed,thestoneflewintofivepieces,buttheironclampsstillheldthedoorinitsposition.Bendingdown,hethrusthisgreatfingersunderit,andwithaheaveraisedthewholemassofwoodandironfromitshinges.Foramomentittotteredandswayed,andthen,fallingoutward,buriedhiminitsruin,whilehiscomradesrushedintothedarkarchwaywhichledtosafety. “Upthesteps,Tiphaine!”criedDuGuesclin.“Nowround,friends,andbeatthemback!”Themobofpeasantshadsurgedinupontheirheels,butthetwotrustiestbladesinEuropegleameduponthatnarrowstair,andfouroftheirnumberdroppeduponthethreshold.Theothersgaveback,andgatheredinahalfcircleroundtheopendoor,gnashingtheirteethandshakingtheirclenchedhandsatthedefenders.ThebodyoftheFrenchsquirehadbeendraggedoutbythemandhackedtopieces.ThreeorfourothershadpulledJohnfromunderthedoor,whenhesuddenlyboundedtohisfeet,andclutchingoneineitherhanddashedthemtogetherwithsuchforcethattheyfellsenselessacrosseachotherupontheground.Withakickandablowhefreedhimselffromtwootherswhoclungtohim,andinamomenthewaswithintheportalwithhiscomrades. Yettheirpositionwasadesperateone.Thepeasantsfromfarandnearhadbeenassembledforthisdeedofvengeance,andnotlessthansixthousandwerewithinoraroundthewallsoftheChateauofVillefranche.Illarmedandhalfstarved,theywerestilldesperatemen,towhomdangerhadlostallfears:forwhatwasdeaththattheyshouldshunittoclingtosuchalifeastheirs?Thecastlewastheirs,andtheroaringflameswerespurtingthroughthewindowsandflickeringhighabovetheturretsontwosidesofthequadrangle.Fromeithersidetheyweresweepingdownfromroomtoroomandfrombastiontobastioninthedirectionofthekeep.Facedbyanarmy,andgirtinbyfire,weresixmenandonewomanbutsomeofthemweremensotrainedtodangerandsowiseinwarthatevennowtheco