shot, he slipped, lost his balance and fell on one knee. He fired into
the air.

"That does not count, my lord," cried Gabriel instantly, and handed him a
second charge.

At the noise of the report Solomon had appeared at the window, and,
understanding what was going on, had lifted his hands to heaven, in order
to address to God a dumb and fervent prayer. Eligi uttered a frightful
inprecation, and hastily reloaded his rifle; but, struck by the calm
confidence of the young man, who stood motionless before him, and by the
old man, who, impassive and undisturbed, seemed to be conjuring God in
the name of a father's authority, disconcerted by his fall, his knees
shaking and his arm jarred, he felt the chills of death running in his
veins. Attempting, nevertheless, to master his emotion, he took aim a
second time; the bullet whistled by the fisherman's ear and buried itself
in the stem of a poplar.

The prince, with the energy of despair, seized the barrel of his weapon
in both hands; but Gabriel was coming forward with his axe, a terrible
foe, and his first stroke carried away the butt of the rifle. He was
still hesitating, however, to kill a defenceless man, when two armed
servants appeared at the end of the pathway. Gabriel did not see them
coming; but at the moment when they would have seized him by the
shoulders, Solomon uttered a cry and rushed to his son's assistance.

"Help, Numa! help, Bonaroux! Death to the ruffians! They want to murder
me."

"You lie, Prince of Brancaleone!" cried Gabriel, and with one blow of the