CHAPTER VIII.
A TRIAL OF ALLEGIANCE Mademoiselle d'Aumenier had seated herself at a table and remained there in spite of the entreaties and black looks of the prisoners.
Marteau did not dare to leave his loophole, but the necessity for watching did not prevent him from talking.

The men outside seemed to have decided that nothing more could be done for the present.

They withdrew from out of range of the deadly fire of the defenders and, back of the wagons, kindled fires, and seemed to be preparing to make a night of it.
The best officers of the detachment were prisoners in the chateau.

The subordinate who had been entrusted with the pursuit was young and inexperienced; the Cossack commander was a mere raider.

They themselves belonged to the cavalry.