best of appetites to ye, curnel, and make haste over yer
dinner. It's Pierce Delaney that'll give ye yer supper." Then they went
off.

"The said Delaney is a huge quarryman," Ralph observed. "He represents
the physical element of terror hereabouts, as I believe I do the moral.
We shall have warm work before morning. He does not like me. Fritz, send
Connell up; he is below somewhere."

The keeper came, looking very much surprised. He had been in the
stables, and had only just heard of the disturbance.

"Get the rifles and guns ready, with bullets and buckshot," his master
said. "We are to be attacked, it seems."

The man's bold face fell blankly.

"By the powers, yer honor, I haven't the value of an ounce of poudther
in the house. I meant to get some the morrow morning, afore ye were up."

Mohun shrugged his shoulders, whistling softly.

"Man proposes," he said. "It's almost a pity we found so many cocks in
the lower copse this afternoon. I have fifteen charges or so in my
pistol-case. We must make that do, loading the rifles light." Then he
went to a window, whence he could see down the road; the moon was
shining brightly.

"I thought so; they have got scouts posted already. The barbarians know
something of skirmishing, after all. Maddox, come here." (The groom was
a strong English boy, very much afraid of his master, but of nothing
else on earth.) "Saddle Sunbeam, and go out by the back gates, keeping
well under the shadow of the trees. When you clear them, ride straight
at the rails at the end of the paddock. You'll get over with a scramble,
I think. Keep fast hold of his head--you _mustn't_ fall. Then make the
best of your way to A----, and tell Colonel Harding, with my
compliments, that I shall be glad if he will send over a troop as
quickly as possible. They ought to be here in two hours. And, mind,
don't spare the horse going, but bring him back easy. You will be of no
use here, and I won't have him lamed if I can help it. You'll have to
risk a bullet or two as you get into the road; but they can't shoot.
It's odds against their hitting you. Now go."

The groom pulled his forelock as if the most ordinary commission had
been given him, and vanished.

"Connell," Ralph went on, "go and saw the ladders that are in the yard
half through. They will hardly try the barred windows; but it looks more
workmanlike to take all precautions. Then come back, and help Fritz to
pile chairs and furniture all up the stair