sword. The two men below stood ready with their drawn swords, but, as
Chicot guessed, on seeing him jump sword in hand, they drew back,
intending to strike him as he came to the ground. Chicot alighted on his
feet, and one of the men gave him a thrust immediately. Thanks,
however, to Gorenflot's coat of mail, the blade broke like glass.

"He has armor!" cried the soldier.

"Pardieu!" said Chicot, cutting open his head with a blow of his sword.

The other began to cry out, thinking now only of defending himself, but,
at the second pass, Chicot laid him by his comrade; so that when the
door was burst open, the officer saw through the window his two
sentinels lying in their blood, and Chicot running quietly away.

"He is a demon; he is steel proof!" cried he.

"Yes; but not ball-proof!" cried the soldiers.

"No firing; no noise; you will wake the city. We shall catch him
to-morrow."




CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE JOURNEY.