Now it was too late for him to get through the window-place safely; if he attempted it he would be stabbed in the back.

So, grasping his sword with both hands, Peter leapt at that man, aiming a great stroke at his shadowy mass.

It fell upon him somewhere, for down he went and lay quite still.

By now the second man had his knee upon the edge of flooring.

Peter thrust him through, and he sank backwards on to the heads of others who were following him, sweeping the ladder with his weight, so that all of them tumbled in a heap at its foot, save one who hung to the edge of the trap frame by his hands.