ess of the experiment would be by no means certain,
as the besieged might stuff up all the orifices, or at the worst might
obtain sufficient fresh air on the top of the tower to enable them to
breathe.

"You are forgetting," one of the peasants exclaimed, "the powder wagon
which broke down as Count Tilly retreated from the Lech. Did we not
carry off the powder barrels and hide them, partly to prevent them
falling into the hands of these accursed Swedes, partly because the
powder would last us for years for hunting the wolf and wild boar? We
have only to stow these inside the tower to blow it into the air."

The idea was seized with shouts of acclamation. Most of the peasants who
had assisted in carrying off the contents of the wagon were present, and
these started instantly to dig up the barrels which they had taken as
their share of the booty. The shouts of satisfaction and the departure
of forty or fifty men at full speed in various directions did not pass
unnoticed by the garrison of the tower.

"They have got a plan of some sort," Malcolm said; "what it is I have no
idea, but they certainly seem confident about it. Look at those fellows
throwing up their caps and waving their arms. I do not see how we can be
attacked, but I do not like these signs of confidence on their part,
for they know now how strong our position is. It seems to me that we are
impregnable except against artillery."

Unable to repress his uneasiness Malcolm wandered from window to window
watching attentively what was going on without, but keeping himself as
far back as possible from the loopholes; for the men with muskets kept
up a dropping fire at the openings, and although their aim was poor,
bullets occasionally passed in and flattened themselves against the
opposite walls.

"There is a man returning," he said in about half an hour; "he is
carrying something on his shoulder, but I cannot see what it is."

In another ten minutes the man had reached the group of peasants
standing two or three hundred yards from the church, and was greeted
with cheers and waving of hats.

"Good heavens!" Malcolm exclaimed suddenly, "it is a barrel of powder.
They must have stripped some broken down ammunition wagon. This is a
danger indeed."

The men grasped their weapons and rose to their feet at the news,
prepared to take any steps which their young officer might command,
for his promptitude and ingenuity had inspired them with unbounded
confidence in