"Do you really think that these varlets will venture to attack us?"

"I do indeed," the old sergeant said. "They have taken several
places as strong as this by sudden assault. They are desperate,
and, as I hear, fight like demons, regardless as to how many fall.
As far as stout arms go we are well supplied, for there are at
least a hundred men capable of bearing arms, and all have had more
or less drill since I have been here. Unfortunately, however, our
wall pieces are old and scarce fit for service, several of them
will, I feel sure, burst at the first discharge."

"But they have no artillery at all, MacIntosh?"

"I am sorry to say that they have, sir, and a good amount of it.
They captured ten field pieces when they defeated the troops, and
have obtained a score of others from the chateaux that they have
taken. They have only to plant them three or four hundred yards
away at the end of the plateau, and they would easily batter down
the gates, and might even in time effect a breach in the walls."

"That is serious indeed, MacIntosh. Is there any other way in which
they can attack us save in front?"

"I think not. I was careful to examine the face of the precipice
when I first took command here, and wherever it seemed to me that
an active man could climb up I had portions of the rock blown up,
and have so scarped the face that I do not think it is scalable
by human foot. But there is nothing to prevent their crossing the
fosse on a dark night, and so stealing along and making an attack