"We hold our own everywhere," said Arnold, leaning out of the window during the brief respite.
The man-at-arms spoke truly. With one exception every house had made good its defence, and already the demoralized men of Malevereux—those who had not been slain or grievously wounded—were seeking safety in flight.
At one place, almost in the centre of the village, the noise of conflict was still to be heard. Ordering the cross-bowmen from the houses, Geoffrey gave instructions to form up at the furthermost end of the village, so as to repel the enemy should they return to the attack, and also to cut off the retreat of any of the remaining men of Malevereux should they attempt to escape.
This done, Geoffrey, accompanied by Gripwell and several archers and men-at-arms, made his way through the corpse-encumbered street to where the struggle was still maintained.
"We have him safe enough, fair sir," exclaimed a bowman, pausing in the act of replenishing his quiver with arrows that were everywhere 'feathering the ground. "The Tyrant is cornered in yonder house."
The Knight of the Blood-red Axe had had his horse shot under him early in the fight. Basely deserted by his panic-stricken followers, he found his retreat cut off by the infuriated defenders. For a space he kept his foes at bay, a ring of dead and wounded men surrounding him as he fought. Wounded in several places till the blood oozed from the joints of his armour, the knight made a sudden rush towards a deserted cottage.
Here he made a stand, bringing down the seneschal of Taillemartel by a sweeping cut with his sword, till, borne back by weight of numbers, he took shelter in one of the rooms.
"Leave him to me," shouted Geoffrey authoritatively, as he forced his way 'twixt the crowd of soldiery.
"Nay, thou'rt foolhardy," objected Gripwell, laying a detaining hand on the shoulder of his charge. "Let the men have their way with the rogue; he is unworthy to be treated as a gentleman of coat-armour."
"Forbear to hinder me; my purpose is fixed," replied Geoffrey stoutly, and, sword in hand, he rushed into the room where the knight stood, back to the wall, three writhing bodies on the floor testifying to his prowess as a swordsman.