“Mind the beams,” Hector shouted, as with a sweeping side blow he clove in the head of one opponent.  But the warning came too late.  Paolo struck a downward blow, the axe caught the low beams of the ceiling, and it flew from his hand.  His opponent sprang upon him.  Paolo caught the man’s right wrist as he struck at him with his knife, and drew his own from his girdle.  His assailant threw his other arm round him, and, grappling, they fell on to the ground.  Hector could do nothing to assist him, for the other two men were trying to circle round him, keeping beyond the swing of his axe but watching for an opportunity to spring upon him.  Keeping his back against the wall he made feints against them.  Presently one of the men passed between him and the two antagonists struggling on the ground.  Suddenly they rolled over and over, coming in contact with him from behind and almost throwing him over.  Before he could recover from the shock Hector’s axe struck him below the ear.

The other man would have turned and made for the door, but Hector knew that it was important that he should not escape and carry the news to others of his party, who might be in the forest.  He therefore sprang after him, and before the wretch could open the door struck him between the shoulders with his long knife.  As he did so Paolo sprung up with a shout.

“Thank God that you are alive, Paolo!  I was afraid that he might have killed you.”

“No, no, master.  I had him by the wrist too firmly for that, and my knife did its work almost directly.  But with those two fellows hovering round I should have been at their mercy had I tried to get on my feet.  So I kept on struggling until I saw my opportunity, and then as that fellow’s back was turned I rolled over against him, and so gave you the chance that you were waiting for.  Well, master, it has been a sharp business.”

“It has indeed.  Now the first thing is to see if there is anyone else in the house, and the next to look about for some clothes for you to put on, for those you wear are covered with blood.  Then we must be off, and put as many miles between us and this place before morning as we can.”

A brief search showed that the place was empty, save for the dead in the taproom.  An old doublet belonging to the landlord was found hanging up in the loft where he slept.  Taking off his outer garments, Paolo put this on.

“It is lucky I kept my breeches on under the others,” he said, “for I certainly could not have gone into a town with these stained things on.  I suppose there is some money hidden somewhere, but we have not time to look.  You may be sure that many a traveller has been murdered here.”

“I quite agree with you, but we have certainly no time to spare to hunt for it.  Let us be off at once.”