death in fair strife, but the bravest might well shrink from such a
death as that of your poor comrade. Now let us see what arms we have
between us."

Malcolm had his sword and pistols, two of the men had pikes, the other
two scythes fastened to long handles.

"These are clumsy weapons," Malcolm said. "You had best fit short
handles to them, so as to make them into double handed swords."

They were unable to travel far, for all were exhausted with the
sufferings they had gone through, but they kept on until they came upon
a village which had been fired when the troops marched through. The
walls of a little church were alone standing. It had, like the rest of
the village, been burned, but the shell still remained.

"So far as I can see," Malcolm said, "the tower has escaped. Had it been
burned we should see through the windows. We may find shelter in the
belfry."

On reaching the church they found that the entrance to the belfry tower
was outside the church, and to this, no doubt, it owed its escape from
the fire which had destroyed the main edifice. The door was strong and
defied their efforts to break it in.

"I must fire my pistol through the lock," Malcolm said. "I do not
like doing so, for the sound may reach the ears of any peasants in the
neighbourhood; but we must risk it, for the cold is extreme, and to lie
down in the snow would be well nigh certain death."

He placed his pistol to the keyhole and fired. The lock at once yielded
and the party entered the door.

"Before we mount," Malcolm said, "let each pick up one of these blocks
of stone which have fallen from the wall. We will wedge the door from
behind, and can then sleep secure against a surprise."

When the door was closed one of the men, who was a musketeer, struck
some sparks from a flint and steel on to a slow match which he carried
in his jerkin, and by its glow they were enabled to look around them.
The stone steps began to ascend close to the door, and by laying the
stones between the bottom step and the door they wedged the latter
firmly in its place. They then ascended the stairs, and found themselves
in a room some ten feet square, in which hung the bell which had called
the village to prayers. It hung from some beams which were covered with
a boarded floor, and a rough ladder led to a trapdoor, showing that
there was another room above. The floor of the room in which they stood
was of stone.

"Now, lads," Malcolm said, "two of you ma