XXXII

illedImustbekilledtoo.Ouronlychanceistofly.' 'Quick!quick!'criedAndrea.'Theyarenearlyhere!' 'Oh,master,master,'criedPietro,'acceptthemeansheoffersyou!' 'Bequick!bequick!' 'Wouldyouhavemeslinkdownabackpassage,likeathief,inmyownhouse?Never!' 'Theyhavereachedthedoors,'criedAndrea. Thenoisewasdeafeningbelow.Thegateshadbeenclosed,andweheardathunderofblowsstoneswerethrown,sticksbeatenagainsttheironthentheyseemedtotakesomegreatinstrumentandpoundagainstthelocks.Againandagaintheblowswererepeated,butatlasttherewasacrash.Amightyshoutbrokefromthepeople,andweheardarush.IsprangtothedooroftheOrso'sroomandlockedandboltedit,then,callingtheotherstohelpme,Idraggedaheavychestagainstit.Weplacedanotherchestonthefirst,anddraggedthebedsteadup,pushingitagainstthechests. Wewereonlyjustintime,for,likewaterrushingatoncethrougheverycrevice,themobsurgedupandfilledeverycornerofthehouse.Theycametoourdoorandpushedit.Totheirsurpriseitdidnotopen.Outsidesomeonecried,— 'It'slocked!' Thehindranceexcitedthem,andthecrowdgatheredgreateroutside. 'Breakitopen,'theycried. Immediatelyheavyblowsthundereddownonthelockandhandle. 'ForGod'ssake,come,'Isaid,turningtoOrso.Hedidnotanswer.Therewasnotimetolose,andIcouldnotconquerhisobstinacy. 'ThenIshallforceyou,'Icried,catchingholdofbothhisarmsanddragginghimfromthechair.Heheldonastightashecould,buthisstrengthwasnothingagainstmine.Icaughtholdofhim,andwasliftinghiminmyarmswhenthedoorwasburstopen.Therushofpeoplethrewdownthebarricade,andthecrowdsurgedintotheroom.Itwastoolate.ImadearushforthelittledoorwithOrso,butIcouldnotgettoit.Theycrowdedroundmewithashout. 'Takehim,'IcriedtoPietro,'whileIdefendyou.' Idrewmysword,butimmediatelyabludgeonfellonitanditsmashedintwo.Igaveashoutandrushedatmyassailants,butitwashopeless.Ifeltacrushingblowonmyhead.Isankdowninsensible.