children were ill; and when not employed in other things, there
were fresh sandbags to be made by the women, to take the place of those
damaged by the enemy's shot.

When, of an evening, a portion of the defenders came off duty, there was
more talk and conversation, as all endeavored to keep up a good face and
assume a confidence they were far from feeling. The Doctor was perhaps
the most cheery of the party. During the daytime he was always on the
roof, and his rifle seldom cracked in vain. In the evening he attended
to his patients, talked cheerily to the ladies, and laughed and joked
over the events of the day.

None among the ladies showed greater calmness and courage than Mrs.
Rintoul, and not a word was ever heard from the time the siege began
of her ailments or inconveniences. She was Mrs. Hunter's best assistant
with the sick children. Even after her husband was wounded, and her
attention night and day was given to him, she still kept on patiently
and firmly.

"I don't know how to admire Mrs. Rintoul enough," Mrs. Hunter said to
Isobel Hannay one day; "formerly I had no patience with her, she was
always querulous and grumbling; now she has turned out a really noble
woman. One never knows people, my dear, till one sees them in trouble."

"Everyone is nice," Isobel said. "I have hardly heard a word of
complaint about anything since we came here, and everyone seems to help
others and do little kindnesses."

The enemy's fire had been very heavy all that day, and the breach in
the wall had been widened, and the garrison felt certain that the enemy
would attack on the following morning.

"You and Farquharson, Doctor, must stop on the roof," the Major said.
"In the first place, it is possible they may try to attack by ladders at
some other point, and we shall want two good shots up there to keep them
back; and in the second, if they do force the breach, we shall want you
to cover our retreat into the house. I will get a dozen rifles for each
of you loaded and in readiness. Isobel and Mary Hunter, who have both
volunteered over and over again, shall go up to load; they have both
practiced, and can load quickly. Of course if you see that the enemy
are not attacking at any other point, you will help us at the breach
by keeping up a steady fire on them, but always keep six guns each in
reserve. I shall blow my whistle as a signal for us to retire to the
house if I find we can hold the breach no longer, so when you he