A group of men round an open door that marked the position of the turret stairs, scattered with cries of alarm as they galloped up.

In a moment they sprang from their horses and entered the doorway.

The stairs were narrow, and but one man could mount and use his weapons at a time.

They were, however, densely packed with men.
Hector sprang up, closely followed by the others.

The resistance was feeble, for the height above the winding steps was but six feet, and insufficient for the use of either axes or longer weapons.