Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/143

Rh their side and immediately called upon them to push their way towards the big doors; but before this manœuvre could be executed, someone had given an order in Arabic and we were all borne back against the wall.

"There is no hope for it!" I cried to the biggest of the strangers. "We must fight our way out. Choose your men and come along."

So saying, I gave the man nearest me one under the jaw to remember me by, which laid him on his back, and then, having room to use my arms, sent down another to keep him company. All this time my companions were not idle, and to my surprise I saw the young Marquis laying about him with a science that I had to own afterwards did credit to his education. Our assailants evidently did not expect to meet with this resistance, for they gave way and began to back towards the door. One or two of them drew knives, but the space was too cramped for them to do much harm with them.

"One more rush," I cried, "and we'll turn them out."

We made the rush, and next moment the doors were closed and barred on the last of them. This done, we paused to consider our position. True, we had driven the enemy from the citadel, but then we ourselves, unless we could find a means of escape, were equally prisoners in it. What was to be done? Why, as you will say, look for a means of escape!

Leaving three of our party to guard the doors, the remainder searched the adjoining rooms; but though we were unsuccessful in our attempt to find an exit, we did what was the next best thing to it, discovered our cowardly guide in a corner, skulking in a curious sort of cupboard.

By the time we had proved to him that the enemy