Quick as a flash one of the men threw himself down upon the deadly bomb. Hardly had he done so when it exploded. There was an ear-splitting roar and the soldier, Fisché by name, was literally blown to pieces. No one else was harmed.
"He saved our lives," exclaimed Jacques feelingly. "Who was that?"
"Fisché," replied one of the men.
"Well, we'd all be dead now if it hadn't been for his nerve and quick action. What a brave man he was!"
"That mustn't happen again," exclaimed Armande. "We must clean those rats out of the tower before it will be safe for us here."
"How are you going to do it?" inquired Jacques.
"Go up after them of course. Who will go with me!"
"I will, I will," cried a half-dozen voices eagerly.
"Come along then," exclaimed Armande, and advancing to the stairway he placed one foot on the bottom step and glanced up.