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224 "Surly-tongue yourself, you uncivil beast," returned Pierre, and as if with sudden passion, he dealt him a blow on the head which sent him reeling to one side, and thrust the key in the lock.

Recovering his surprise and furious at the blow, the man sprang at Pierre to be met with the butt end of Dubois' musket full in the face.

"Back, you mutinous dog," cried Dubois, in a voice of command, as the man fell stunned and bleeding. "Is this the way you Castle men treat your officers? You know better at least," he said to his own men. "See that there's no more of this mutiny. Bring down the visitors, Pierre."

But there was no need to fetch them, for Gerard at the first sound of trouble had hurried down with Gabrielle.

The sergeant's men, taken by surprise stood in doubt what to do; but as two of their new comrades had recognized Dubois for an officer and sided with him, and being as they saw outnumbered, they offered no resistance, and the little party were through the gate, and the gate itself was locked before their surprise had passed.

The stairway now was broader and led straight to the open doorway, which let out upon the courtyard; and they were hurrying down, Gerard and Gabrielle leading, when the figures of two men showed in the doorway, and Gabrielle clutched Gerard's arm in sudden fear.

"De Proballe," she whispered, shrinking against the wall.

At the same moment there came the sound of shots and angry voices in the courtyard, and all the evidences of a fierce battle.

"It is the guard changing, my lord," said Pierre. "They have discovered something wrong."

"They have run up against Pascal's force," he replied. "Dubois, we must clear that doorway; or we shall be caught like rats in a hole."