e shattered carriage, and at right angles to
its former position.

"Give 'em yours now, my lad," growled Ben; and the corporal fired; but
his shot went right over the battery and struck up the earth twenty
yards behind.

"Depress the muzzle, man!" cried Roy.

"I did, sir, more than usual," said the corporal, rather sulkily.

"Yes, sir," said Ben; "he's a better gunner than me. Mine was on'y a
bit o' luck, for I raised mine this time."

While the guns were being reloaded, Roy and his lieutenant watched the
proceedings in the battery, waiting to withdraw when the enemy seemed to
be about to fire.

But no further shot was sent roaring and whizzing against the tower,
and, night falling, it soon became impossible to see what was going on.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

A STARTLING PORTENT.

That same night the proceedings at the earthwork were repeated under
cover of a strong guard, the greater portion of the little garrison
being engaged in repairing and strengthening the great earthen bank from
the inner side; and this was carried out till dawn without the slightest
interruption.

When the day broke, the reason for this was plain, for the enemy's
battery had been carefully repaired; and just at sunrise a troop of
horse was seen coming from the encampment of the main body of the force,
half a mile away. As they came nearer, it was made out why they
approached. For the troop was the escort of a couple of guns, each
drawn by six horses; and an hour later a fresh embrasure was unmasked,
and there were three guns ready to try and solve the problem unsolved on
the previous day.

"Shall we hoist up another gun, Ben?" said Roy; but the old fellow shook
his head.

"No, sir; I don't see any good in it. You know it's just a chance about
hitting, and though they keep touching us, what good do they do? They
may hammer away at the gate tower till they've half knocked it down, and
it'll take 'em about a month to do it. And what better will they be
then? They won't stand an inch nearer to getting in than they do
to-day. Let 'em fire. You give 'em a shot now and then to tell 'em
you're at home. Don't you waste more good ammunition than you can
help."

Roy took his lieutenant's advice; and for a week the siege went on with
the accompaniment of demonstrations of cavalry round the castle, and
approaches by night, all of which kept the little garrison well on the
alert, but did not advance the reduction of the strongho