"When the rush finally comes we are likely to be without sufficient
ammunition to repel it."

"When the rush comes?" she echoed in startled tone. "Do you expect an
assault?"

"I hardly expect those fellows out there will ever leave without a most
determined effort to carry the house by storm. They are here for
plunder, and will not be baffled easily, nor will the leaders hesitate
to sacrifice any number of lives to gain their end, especially now that
a desire for revenge has been added to the original lust for spoils. I
have been among them, you know, and learned enough of their power,
organization, and leadership to convince me they will never raise the
siege until they exhaust every resource. I have no doubt they are
simply drawing all this fire in the hope that our ammunition will thus
be uselessly expended. It is an old army trick, and one I am surprised
to see so experienced an officer as Major Brennan yield to. In my
judgment they will make an effort to rush us as soon as there is
sufficient light."

"But why not warn him?"

I smiled to myself at the naive question. Surely it could not be
possible she remained ignorant of the feud existing between us. She had
twice witnessed our hostile meetings, and certainly could not forget
how we had last parted.

"Major Brennan would scarcely welcome any interference on my part."

"But surely, as a soldier, he must value the advice of another