The defenders gave no sign of their presence, no pistol flashed out from window or loophole.
Striding through the still hot ashes the leader of the woodmen passed through the doorway and advanced up the stairs.

These ran in short straight flights round the tower, lighted by narrow loopholes.

No resistance was encountered until he reached the last turning, where a broader glare of light came from the open doorway, where two of the soldiers, pike in hand, stood ready to repel them.

With a shout to his followers to come on, the peasant sprang forward.

He ascended three steps, and then, as he placed his foot upon the sharply inclined plane of the door, which he had not noticed, he stumbled forward.