with the courage of men fighting for their freedom. They had Pascal to lead them, moreover; and he had clubbed his musket and laid about him with an energy and strength which none could resist wherever he went. And he was everywhere where the fight was thickest; and the stronger men, inspired by his example, seized the soldiers' weapons and fought shoulder to shoulder with him with terrible effect.
The tables were soon turned, and the guards were beaten and overthrown or held prisoners by the men who a few minutes before had been cowering before them.
Before it ended, however, another struggle commenced. The Governor, mad with rage, called upon those with him, and drawing his sword, rushed at Gerard to cut him down, unarmed as he was. But Dubois had anticipated this, and his sword met that of the Duke, who sought with all his skill and trick of fence to break through the other's guard.
The two were soon left fighting almost alone, for the Bourbon soldiers, maddened by the treacherous attempt upon Gerard's life, attacked the courtiers with a right good will, and drove them back speedily to the wall with the fury of their onslaught. There they were speedily disarmed, but not until several of them had been wounded.
As the din of the conflict within the hall died down at the ignominious defeat of the Governor's supporters, there came from outside the sound of heavy firing and the loud shouts of many men engaged in desperate fighting.
"It is d'Alembert; I hear the Bourbon cry," shouted Pascal, hurrying to one of the entrances.
Gerard called to the Governor to yield; and Dubois, hearing this, changed his defensive tactics for those of vigorous attack, and as he was driving the Governor before him, he stepped back suddenly, and so brought the duel to an end.
