“Give me the flag, then,” cried Kate, snatching it from Massingbred's hand, and hastening on before the others. And now the heavy wagon had fallen back to its place, and a serried file of muskets peeped over it. “Where's Massingbred?” asked the Captain, eagerly. “Yonder,--where he ought to be!” exclaimed Kate, proudly, pointing to the barricade, upon which, now, Jack was standing conspicuously, a musket on his arm. The troops in front were not the head of a column, but the advanced guard of a force evidently at some distance off, and instead of advancing on the barricade, they drew up and halted in triple file across the street. Their attitude of silent, stern defiance--for it was such--evoked a wild burst of popular fury, and epithets of abuse and insult were heaped upon them from windows and parapets. “They are the famous Twenty-Second of the Line,” said the Captain, “who forced the Pont-Neuf yesterday and drove the mob before them.” “It is fortunate for us that we fall into such hands,” said Lady Dorothea, waving her handkerchief as she advanced. But Kate had already approached the line, and now halted at a command from the officer. While she endeavored to explain how and why they were there, the cries and menaces of the populace grew louder and wilder. The officer, a very young subaltern, seemed confused and flurried; his eyes turned constantly towards the street from which they had advanced, and he seemed anxiously expecting the arrival of the regiment. “I cannot give you a convoy, Mademoiselle,” he said; “I. scarcely know if I have the right to let you pass. We may be attacked at any moment; for aught I can tell, _you_ may be in the interests of the insurgents--” “We are cut off, Lieutenant,” cried a sergeant, running up at the moment. “They have thrown up a barrier behind us, and it is armed already.” “Lay down your arms, then,” said Kate, “and do not sacrifice your brave fellows in a hopeless straggle.” “Listen not to her, young man, but give heed to your honor and your loyalty,” cried Lady Dorothea. “Is it against such an enemy as this French soldiers fear to advance?” “Forward!” cried the officer, waving his sword above his head. “Let us carry the barricade!” And a wild yell of defiance from the windows repeated the speech in derision. “You are going to certain death!” cried Kate, throwing herself before him. “Let _me_ make terms for you, and they shall not bring dishonor on you.” “Here comes the regiment!” called out the sergeant. “They have forced the barricade.” And the quick tramp of a column, as they came at a run, now shook the street. “Remember your cause and your King, sir,” cried Lady Dorothea to the officer. “Bethink you of your country,--of France,--and of Liberty!” said Kate, as she grasped his arm. “Stand back!--back to the houses!” said he, waving his sword. “Voltigeurs, to the front!”