He was there to hold the fort to the last--to gain time, though he could not for the life of him see what use time was to be when all the strategy of his own side seemed to have miscarried.

Anyhow, the blackguards would be sold, for they would not find the Princess.

But he felt a horrid void in the pit of his stomach, and a looseness about his knees.
The moments passed more quickly as he wrestled with his fears.

The next he knew the empty space below his window was filling with figures.
There was a great crowd of them, rough fellows with seamen's coats, still dripping as if they had had a wet landing.

Dobson was with them, but for the rest they were strange figures.
Now that the expected had come at last Heritage's nerves grew calmer.
He made out that the newcomers were trying the door, and he waited to hear it fall, for such a mob could soon force it.