"Come on, ye pack of cowards! Why do ye hesitate? Do ye fear the single sword of one good knight? Come on, I say, ye pack of sneaking wolves that fear to attack, and yet stand in a circle round and growl!" I cried in defiance at them.
"Come on, ye pack of cowards."
There must have been well nigh a score; something more than half in my room, and the others in the room betwixt Michael and us.
The giant now thundered at the separating door, and swore an unceasing stream of oaths of vengeance.
This door, however, was a heavy oaken one, and withstood even Michael's mighty assault with great endurance.
Still the soldiers stood waiting, swords in hands.
Presently, with leisurely, swinging stride and clanking armour, a smile of triumph on his sneering face, entered my dearest foe, Catesby. With a courtly bow, accompanied by a graceful wave of the hand, he saluted Hazel, who, with great calmness, stood with clenched hands and firm-pressed lips behind her barricade.
"Welcome, my dear lady, to this house that taketh in poor troubled refugees. Methinks the directions in my poor note must have been clear; for my guests have arrived even earlier than I had expected," said he, as he folded his arms and regarded us with a smile of satisfaction.