He led them quietly along the passage and up the staircase. At the landing he halted. "The guards are in that room at the end of the corridor," he whispered. "I’m going in to try and get their muskets. If I’m discovered, you three make a rush and get hold of the muskets. Never mind about me. You understand." "Ay, ay, sir." He crept stealthily into the room. The men’s cartridge-belts lay in a heap on the table. Taking care to make no noise, Jack lifted two or three, one at a time, and handed them to his men. Then he approached the pile of arms. With the gentlest of movements he released two of the muskets, one with each hand, on opposite sides of the pile. Would the balance be disturbed? No, all was safe. He passed the weapons out of the room, and turned to remove a third and a fourth. But who had make that click? It was one of the men outside. Jack looked anxiously at the sleeping forms. Had any of them been awakened? One of the Frenchmen turned, sat up, rubbed his eyes—and saw the English prisoner! "_Au voleur! au prisonnier! aux armes! Eveillez-vous, mes camarades!_" He was so sleepy that he scarcely knew what he was saying; but his shout roused his companions. As they turned, too heavy with sleep to have all their wits about them, Jack’s three men sprang in, and in a twinkling seized the remaining muskets and rushed back into the passage. The first Frenchman was now on his feet. Jack with a straight right-hander sent him spinning over; then he dashed to the door, slipped the key out of one side of the lock and into the other, and just as two of the other men were lurching toward him, skipped outside, slammed the door, and turned the key. [Illustration: Jack, with a straight right-hander, sent him spinning over] "Now, men, after me!" he cried. He raced along the corridor, conscious of a tremendous uproar in the guard-room—cries, oaths, violent thumps and kicks on the door. Up the stairs! There were the sentries at the top, startled out of their wits. What was happening? Hubbub below, hubbub in the prisoners’ room! The prisoners were actually battering at the door! And with heavy implements: where had they got them? Crash! There was a panel half driven out. The amazed soldiers raised their muskets; they could at least fire into the room. But at this moment they caught sight of Jack and the sailors springing up the back staircase. Another crash on the door! _O ciel_! They waited for no more, but with a yell turned their backs and leaped down the main staircase, taking three stairs at a time. "Ahoy there, Babbage; stand clear!" shouted Jack. "Ay, ay, sir!" cried the bo’sun from within. Putting to the lock the musket he carried, Jack fired. The lock was burst; with a touch the door gave way; and a second later the prisoners began to pour out. "Steady, men!" cried Jack. "No crowding, or we’ll get jammed and be clapped under hatches again. Armed men in front."