I had to yield the outer passage and retreat to the printing room, where three of the besiegers got in with me before I could make to the door.

There was no time to lose, for the door was a weak one, and in five minutes would be down.

So I laid about me with the printer's balls, and stunned one of my men and upset another.

Then I put the third down the trap-door, which stood open, just as the door began to totter inwards.

It was time to go.