osing themselves
unnecessarily. But with the two joists, both sides of the gate could be
commanded. In a moment, creeping under the protection of the wall,
Marishka joined him, bringing two rifles.

"Are they coming?" she asked.

"Not yet. But they will soon."

He explained his plan more fully, then bade her go back for another
rifle, ammunition; and return in the protection of the opposite wall to
the post opposite.

"They can do nothing unless they bring artillery," he said confidently.
"Don't expose yourself or look out, but if a plank comes over, push it
down."

She smiled and slipped away into the darkness, and Renwick returned to
his loophole. The sky above was getting lighter, and a glance up the
mountain side to his left showed it already in clear profile against the
lightening east, which announced the coming of the dawn. And with the
dawn--light. Was this what the attackers were waiting for?

He saw the gray figure of Marishka creep along the opposite wall, and in
a moment she was there, not ten feet away at her post, crouched in
safety and waiting.

"On no account look through the loophole," he ordered. "As the light
grows, there will be men to shoot at them. Keep under cover.
Understand?"

She only laughed hysterically.

In a moment, as the light grew, he warned her that they were coming
again.

"Keep in," he cried. "Don't try to look at the end of the----"

The warning came just in time, for a fusillade of bullets swept the gate
and they heard the sounds of many men's voices as they came on the run.
Another fusillade which sent dust and fragments of stone flying all
about them! Then a timber crashed across, but before it settled into
place the two joists had pushed it off the smooth landing. At the same
time another volley was fired which would have surely found a mark if
Renwick had exposed himself, but Marishka matched her action to
Renwick's, crouching low, safe from observation, pole in hand, eagerly
watching her half of the gate.

Another timber--which fell harmlessly and crashed down into the gorge,
and another volley--alike harmless to the defenders. High hopes rose in
Renwick. They could do nothing. Opposite him Marishka, forgetting all
her fears, had caught the contagion of successful resistance and
crouched, her jaws set, eyes sparkling, her slender hands grasping the
rough timber, undaunted and resolute.

"Keep under cover----" he shouted, as another timber came across.

This