There were shouts and cries, and then there was silence.

Taken wholly by surprise, the guard had fallen under the knives of the Vendeans without having had time to fire a shot.
Then the majority of their assailants ran off, half one way, half the other, following the wall of the prison.

Two pistol shots were fired, a moment later.

The men who had remained at the gate drew back for some distance.

There was a short pause, and then a tremendous explosion.