the peasants, who had now lighted
great fires just out of pistol shot from the tower, and were gathered
thickly round them, the light flashing redly from pike head and scythe.

The uproar of voices was loud; but though the defenders guessed that
they were discussing the next plan of attack they could catch no meaning
from such words as reached them, for the patois of the Bavarian
peasants was unintelligible. At last a large number seized brands, some
approached as before towards the pile, the others scattered in various
directions, while the men with muskets again opened fire at the top of
the tower.

Malcolm took his post at the loophole awaiting attack, but the men in
front of him did not advance. Suddenly a light sprang up beneath him.
There was a sound of falling stones, but the light grew brighter and
brighter, and he knew that this time the pile had been fired. As he ran
upstairs he was met by one of the soldiers from above.

"They crept round by the back of the church, sir, and round at the foot
of the tower, and they had fired the pile before we saw that they were
there."

"It cannot be helped," Malcolm said, "they were sure to succeed sooner
or later. Call the others down from the roof."

The door at the top of the stairs was now closed, and the crevices were
stuffed tightly with strips torn from the men's clothes so as to prevent
the smoke from entering when the door below gave way to the flames. A
broad glare of light now lit up the scene, and showers of sparks, and an
occasional tongue of flame were visible through the window.

"Shut down the trapdoor in the roof," Malcolm said, "that will check the
draught through the windows."

The wood was dry, and what smoke made its way in through the window
found its way out through the loopholes of the upper chamber without
seriously incommoding those below.

"We can take it easy, now," Malcolm said as he set the example by
sitting down against the wall. "It will be hours before the stonework
below will be cool enough to permit them to attack."

"They are lighting a circle of fires all round the church," one of the
soldiers said looking out.

"They think we shall be trying to escape, now that our door is burned.
They are too late; I trust our messenger is miles away by this time."

In half an hour the flames died away, but a deep red glow showed that
the pile of embers was still giving out an intense heat. One of the
men was now placed on the top of the t