while he grew daily more morose,
his supporters--left in idleness with the thought of what had been done--
began to wish themselves out of the mess. Without excitement to keep
their blood warm they had leisure to note Roger's ill humours and discuss
them, and to tell each other that he showed very little of the gratitude
he certainly owed them. Also, since it was certain that no further attack
could be delivered at less than a few hours warning, and since their own
affairs called them, the garrison divided itself into "shifts," one
mounting guard while the rest visited their homes. And when the men were
at home their wives talked to them.

Roger himself never put his nose beyond the defences. In all the years at
Helleston a sedentary life had not told on him; but it told on him now,
and rapidly. The true cause no doubt lay in his own sullen heart.
It is a fact, however, that by this time the state of Steens was
insanitary to a high degree and the well water polluted. At little cost
of labour the garrison could have tapped and led down one of the many
fresh springs on the hillside, but to this no thought was given. The man
grew gaunt and livid in colour, and his flesh began to sag inwards at the
back of the neck. By the middle of December he was far gone in what is
now called Bright's disease, and with this disease the madness in his
brain kept pace.

The crisis came with the New Year. Rumours had already reached Steens
that the new Sheriff meant business, and was collecting a regiment at
Plymouth to march westward as soon as he took up office; also that Mrs.
Stephen had travelled down ahead of him and taken lodgings at a farmhouse
on the near side of Truro in readiness to witness her triumph.
Confident now that no danger threatened before the New Year, all but ten
of the garrison--but these ten included the faithful (and unmarried)
Trevarthen--had dispersed to their homes to keep Christmas.

Early in the morning of New Year's Day Trevarthen suggested riding into
Helleston to purchase fresh meat, their stock of which had run low with
the Christmas feasting. He had made many such expeditions--always,
however, with an escort of four or five; for although the Justices held
their hands, and made no attempt to arrest the dispersed conspirators in
their own homes but suffered them there to go about their private
occupations, the purchase of victuals for the besieged house was another
matter, and rumour had more th