You have done your duty loyally--now consider yourself a prisoner of war." Then turning to de Sigognac, he said, "You may trust his word, for he is an honourable fellow in his way, and will not molest you again--I will answer for him." Malartic made a gesture of acquiescence, and the baron let him go--whereupon the discomfited bully picked up his sword, and with a crestfallen air walked off very disconsolately to a corner, where he sat down and occupied himself in staunching the blood that was flowing from his wound.

The other three men were quickly conquered, and, at the suggestion of the latest comer, were securely bound hand and foot as they lay upon the floor, and then left to reflect upon their misfortunes.
"They can't do any more mischief now," said Jacquemin Lampourde, mockingly; for it was that famous fighting man in person, who, in his enthusiastic admiration, or rather adoration, for de Sigognac, had offered his services on this momentous occasion--services by no means to be despised.

As to the brave Herode, he was doing good service in fighting the rest of the garrison below.

They had hastened out and crossed the moat in the little row-boat as quickly as possible after the alarm was given, but arrived too late, as we have seen, to prevent the assailants from ascending their strange scaling ladder.

So they determined to follow, hoping to overtake and dislodge some of them.