Lagardere grunted. "Ungentlemanly," he protested, and then addressed Nevers: "Well, duke, we can manage ten apiece easily." He turned to the boy and gave him some quick instructions. "Creep through the wood behind the castle to the highway. Run like the devil to the cross-roads, where my men wait. Tell them Lagardere is in danger. They may be here in a quarter of an hour." The boy answered him, decisively: "They shall be." Lagardere patted him on the back. "Good lad," he said, and the boy darted from his side and disappeared into the darkness. Lagardere turned to the duke. "There is no chance of escaping now without a scuffle," he said; "we must fight it out as well as we can. You and I, duke, ought not to think it a great matter to handle ten rascals apiece in this fighting-place, if only we intrench ourselves properly." As he spoke he laid his precious bundle reverently in the hay-cart, where it seemed to sleep as peacefully as if it were in its native cradle, and began piling up the great masses of the bundles of hay in front of him to form a kind of rampart. Nevers looked at him in astonishment. "Do you stand by me?" Lagardere answered him cheerfully. "I came here to fight with you. I stay here to fight for you. I must fight somebody. I lose by the change, for it is a greater honor to fight Monsieur de Nevers than a battalion of bravos, but there is no help for it." There was a little silence, and then Nevers said, slowly: "You are a splendid gentleman." "There is nothing to make a fuss about," Lagardere said, lightly. "I am this little lady's soldier. I came here in a cutthroat humor enough, but since I dandled her daintiness in my arms I've taken a fine liking for her father." Nevers reached out his hand to Lagardere. "Henceforward we are comrades--brothers." Lagardere clasped the extended hand. "Heart and hand, for life and death, brother." VIII THE FIGHT IN THE MOAT As they stood there, hand clasped in hand, exchanging the dateless pledge of brotherhood, they heard the sound of many feet coming cautiously along the road to the bridge. The practised assassins walked catfoot, but there were others that shuffled in their care to go warily. Nevers said, quietly: "Here come the swords." Lagardere gave a jolly laugh. "Now for a glorious scrimmage!" he said, and made his sword sing in the air.