e
ruins of the village below lay black and deserted. The men resumed the
clothes which had been used for blocking the loopholes, and sat down
to pass the long hours which would elapse before the time for action
arrived. It was exceedingly cold, for there were loopholes on each side
of the chamber, and the wind blew keenly through.

"Sergeant," Malcolm said, "we will risk a bit of fire again, for the
cold pierces to the bone; only be sure that you use perfectly dry wood.
Examine each piece to see that no drip from the roof has penetrated it.
If it is dry it will give but little smoke, and a slight vapour is not
likely to be observed rising from the top of the tower."

The fire was again lighted, and the smoke was so slight that Malcolm had
little fear of its being observed.

An hour later, as the men were talking, Malcolm suddenly held up his
hand for silence, and the murmur of voices was heard without. Malcolm
rose to his feet to reconnoitre, standing far back from the loophole as
he did so. A group of some eight or ten peasants were standing looking
at the tower, while a woman was pointing to it and talking eagerly.

It was towards the windows that she was pointing, and Malcolm guessed at
once that, having returned in the early morning to see what remained
of her home, she had happened to notice the garments stuffed in the
windows, and had carried the news to some of her companions. Malcolm
regretted bitterly now that he had not set a watch, so that at the first
gleam of daylight the windows might have been unblocked; but it was now
too late.

"We shall have to fight for it, lads," he said, turning round. "Our
clothes must have been seen early this morning, and there is a party
of peasants watching the tower. Of course they cannot know at present
whether we are friends or foes; but no doubt the news of last evening's
doings has travelled through the country, and the peasants are on the
lookout for us, so they may well guess that we are here. However, we
shall soon see. Sergeant, place one of your men on sentry at the foot of
the stairs, but do not let him speak or give any signs of his presence
if the door is tried."

One of the soldiers was placed on guard. Scarcely had he taken his
station when there was a knocking at the door, and shouts were heard
outside from the peasants calling on those within, if they were friends,
to come out. No answer was returned.

"It's fortunate for you," Malcolm muttered, "that w