cannot look for any moon or brightness of the stars which shall aid our
eyes when the sun has set. It will be a dark night, cloudy and,
perhaps, tempestuous. If the storm should break and nature be our ally,
then the worst is done with already and the end is sure. But we have no
right to hope for that. We must face the situation like thinking men,
prepared for any eventuality.

Now, I had slept a little at the height of the day, and the first news
that they brought to me when I waked was of the surrender of the two
that remained in the caverns below, and of the fidelity of the other
four of Czerny's men who already had joined us. So far as I can make
out there may be but one living man in the lower story of the house,
and for him and his goodwill we care nothing.

The rest of the crowd we fought, seeing, perhaps, that fortune goes
with us so far, will themselves stand on fortune's side and serve us
faithfully. That much, at least, I put to my fellows as we sat round
the table in the hall and made those plans which reason dictated.

"They'll serve," said I, "as long as we are on the winning side. We'll
put them in the engine room, where they'll keep the fires going for
their own sakes. If they so much as look false, then shoot them down.
It is in my mind, Captain Nepeen," said I, "that we'll have need of
such a man as you, and three good fellows with you, at the lesser gate.
You should find cover on the rocks while we hold the near sea for you.
if Czerny gets a foothold there and beats that door in, I need not tell
you how it will go with us. For the rest, I leave two men at the
stairs-head and two in this hail to be at Miss Ruth's call. Peter Bligh
and Dolly Venn go up with me to work the gun. If they rush it--well,
twenty there won't keep them back with rifles. But I count upon the
coward's part, and I say that a man will think twice about dying for
such as Czerny and his ambitions. Let that be in all your minds, and
remember--for God's sake remember--what you are fighting for."

"For women's honour and good men's lives," said Captain Nepeen,
quietly. "Yes; that's the stake, gentlemen. I don't think we need say
any more to nerve our arms and clear our eyes. We fight for all that is
most dear to honest men. If we fail, let us at least fail like true
seamen who answer 'Here' when duty has called."

_At six o'clock._

We all dined together at this time in the large dining-room near by
Miss Ruth's boudoir. An odder