the
lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources
of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular
strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed
possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter--to remain
with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the
future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next
opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the
guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from
France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited.
Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of
hostilities more than ten years before--why should not Elizabeth, do as
much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had
begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved
rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled
again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The
remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy
nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw
up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day.

On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a
south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard
on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that
in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere,
and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In
their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to
renew their apparently endless operations.

"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven
weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry
of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with.
Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time
comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up
scaling-ladders and deliver an assault."

As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the
help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At
the same instant the Castle guns saluted.

"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of
help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must
recall our cruisers from Guern