Loud shouts were heard, showing that the alarm was sounding through the palace.
One more desperate effort the assailants made, to beat the two men who opposed them over the parapet, but Hossein and the Irishman stood firm.

The weight and numbers of their opponents, however, told upon them; when the first of the sentries appeared upon the platform, followed closely by his comrade; and both, with levelled bayonets, charged into the fray.
The assailants now thought only of escape, but their position was a desperate one.

Some rushed to the end of the terrace, and tried to climb the ropes by which they had slid down from the upper roof of the house.

Others endeavoured to rush down the staircase; but Tim, with one of the sentries, guarded this point, until a rush of feet below told that the guard were coming to their assistance.
It was well that help was at hand, for the conspirators, desperate at finding themselves in a trap, gathering themselves together, rushed with the fury of wild beasts upon Tim and the sentry.

One was impaled upon a bayonet, another cut down by Tim, and then, borne back by the weight of their opponents, they were hurled backwards down the stairs.
As the assailants followed them with a rush, the guard sprang through the open window, from the terrace below, into the room.
There was a short and desperate conflict.