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The Major was dumbfounded, rubbed his eyes, and, pale with wrath,

shouted, "Rebellion, a rebel!"-and, drawing his sword, rushed to

run him through. Then the Monk took a pistol from his sleeve, and

cried: "Shoot, Thaddeus, aim for the bull's eye." Thaddeus at

once seized it, aimed, and shot; he missed, but he deafened and

scorched the Major. Rykov started up with his guitar, crying,

"Rebellion! rebellion!" and made for Thaddeus; but from the other

side of the table the Seneschal swung his arm with a left-hand

motion, and a knife whistled through the air between the heads of

the company and struck before they saw it flash. It struck the

bottom of the guitar and pierced it through and through; Rykov

dodged and thus escaped death, but he was frightened; with a cry

of "Yagers! Rebellion! In God's name!" he drew his sword, and,

defending himself, he retreated to the threshold.