The defenders of the stairs made no attempt at pursuit.
The instant the burgher guard entered the hall, Hugh and Joe threw down their bloodstained swords, and knelt beside Rupert.
"Ough!" sighed the latter, in a long breath.
"Thank God! He is not dead." "Dead!" Rupert gasped, "not a bit of it; only almost trodden to death.

One of my stout friends has been standing on me all the time, though I roared for mercy so that you might have heard me a mile off, had it not been for the din." "But are you not stabbed, Master Rupert ?" "Stabbed! No; who should have stabbed me?
One of you somehow hit me on the back, and down I went; but there is no stab." "He had a dagger.

I saw it flash," Hugh said, lifting Rupert to his feet.
"Had he ?" Rupert said; "and who was he?
"If it was an enemy, it is your coat of mail has saved me," he continued, turning to Van Duyk.

"I have never taken it off since.
But how did he get behind me I wonder?
"Run," he continued energetically, "and see if the lady is safe.
There must have been mischief behind." Mynheer van Duyk, closely followed by the others, ran upstairs to his daughter's room.

The door was open.