r."

"Killed?" said Roy, excitedly.

"Ah! that's more than we can say, sir. They didn't send us word. He's
got the best gun, you see, sir; and I don't take so well to this sort of
work. I want a good horse between my knees, and your father ahead of me
to lead. Why, if he was here with his ridgement, he'd take us along
like a big brush, and sweep this mob o' rebels off the country, as clean
as one of the maids would do it with a broom. I say, sir; try your
luck. The men like to see you have a shot or two. You boys are so
lucky."

Roy tried and tried again as the day wore on, and the duel between tower
and battery went on, but tried in vain. The men were relieved, and the
fresh relay kept up a steady fire, shot for shot with the enemy; but
nothing was done beyond knocking the earth up in all directions; while
as fast as the face of the battery was injured, they could see spades
and baskets at work, and the earth was replaced by more. A
demonstration was made by the enemy on the sides of the castle, as if to
try what was to be expected there; but a shot or two from the corner
towers forced the horsemen to retire; and night was approaching fast
when Ben and the corporal relieved the men who had been firing all the
afternoon, and Roy was with them just as the old soldier took aim for
his first shot.

"I've given her an extra charge of powder, sir," he said. "I'd ha' give
her a double dose, on'y it would be a pity to burst her. Like to run
your eye along before she's fired, sir?"

"No; you try this time, Ben."

As Roy spoke, there was a tremendous crash, followed by the report of
the enemy's gun; and the rattling down of the splintered stone told how
heavy the impact of the shot had been.

"More damage," growled Ben. "They're a-shooting ever so much better
than us, corporal."

The next minute he applied the port-fire, and the gun sprang back, as a
tremendous report followed.

"Made her kick quite savage, sir," said Ben, with a chuckle. "She says
it's more powder than she likes."

He stepped to the embrasure as the smoke slowly rose, and gazed out at
the enemy's battery.

"Come and look, Master Roy," he said, with a grim smile.--"I say,
corporal, that's one to me."

The men raised a tremendous cheer, for plainly enough seen in the dim
evening light, the interior of the battery was in confusion; and as the
smoke quite cleared away, they saw that one of the guns was lying
several feet back behind th