This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ...this hall of refuge, beyond which there was nothing left for them, the first care of the besieged was to bar the entrance. It would be of no use to fasten the door. It would be better to block up the stairway. In a case like this, an obstacle through which it is possible to see and to fight is of more value than a fastened door. The torch placed by l'Imanus in a cresset on the wall, near the sulphur slow match, gave them light. In this hall on the second floor there was one of those large, heavy oak chests in which clothing and linen were kept before, the invention of furniture with drawers. They dragged this chest, and stood it on end in the doorway of the staircase. It fitted in firmly and obstructed the entrance. It left only a narrow space open near the arch, large enough to let a man through, excellent for killing the assailants, one by one. It was doubtful if men would risk themselves there. Having blocked up the entrance, they took a respite. They counted their number. Of the nineteen, only seven were left, including l'Imanus. All were wounded except l'Imanus and the marquis. The five who were wounded, but very active, --for in the heat of battle, all wounds not mortal allow men to come and go, --were Chatenay, called Robi, Guinoiseau, Hoisnard, Branche-d' Or, Brin-d' Amour and Grand-Francoeur. All the rest were dead. They had no ammunition. The cartridge boxes were exhausted. They counted the cartridges. How many shots for the seven had they? Four. They had reached the moment when there was nothing left but to fall. They were driven to the very precipice, yawning and awful; it would have been difficult to be nearer the edge. In the meantime, the attack was beginning; but slowly and all the more sure. The sound of the besiegers' gunstocks.