So sudden was his onslaught, that none had time to ask whence he came or how many followed him.

Only a handful of soldiers withstood us.

Among these was the gay English fellow whom we had let go an hour or so back; and who now, true to his word, rushed sword in hand at Ludar.

I wondered to see what Ludar would do, for kill the fellow I knew he would not.

He met the Englishman's sword with a tremendous blow from his own sheathed weapon, which shivered it.