shame,
did his part.

First we tore from the floor of the loft the heavy puncheon planks which
were laid across the beams but not fastened in place, and with them as
props and bars fastened the door that the side of the building itself
would yield to pressure from without before would that barrier,
strengthened as we had succeeded in strengthening it.

Then we fastened planks across the windows, forced to tie them in place
with strips which formed the bonds that held Abel Hunt and Horry Sims
helpless, for we had nothing else with which to work, and after all that
had been done we made a rude platform just beneath where the roof of the
building had been torn away by a cannon ball, so that one of us could
stand sentinel watching the approach of the enemy and give due warning
of his coming.

This done we took from beneath the floor the muskets, loaded each, and
portioned out the cartridges fairly, giving to every one his share,
after which, at Pierre's suggestion, we made a hearty meal of the last
fragments of food in our possession.

When my stomach was fairly well filled, then did there come back to me
that courage under which I should never have lost hope.

There was no token that the storm might be losing its force; in fact it
seemed to me as if it increased momentarily, if indeed such could be the
case when the wind was raging, the rain falling and the thunder pealing
as I had never heard or seen it before.

It was almost as if we were in a ship at sea, so violently did old
Mary's cabin rock to and fro under that mighty blast, and there were
many times before the coming of morning when I really believed the hovel
would be rent asunder by the wind, and we deprived of this seemingly our
last opportunity to sell our lives at somewhat of a fair price.

When we had made ready our defense so far as was possible, and had
satisfied our hunger, Uncle 'Rasmus would have it that we lads should
lie down to sleep, trusting him to stand guard over us; but never one
among our company was willing to act upon the suggestion, for what
fellow could have slept with the elements raging and roaring without,
while he knew full well what must be before him when the sun rose again.

It was not even possible for us to seek repose; but all three paced to
and fro from one end of the small room to the other, as if by thus
remaining in motion we could the better hold in check our fears and our
forebodings.

Before we were aware that th