ing and protection of heaven.

A loud screaming was heard, and Rigby, darting a furious look through
the doorway, ordered it to be closed.

"Another porker!" said he. "I verily think she hath provision behind the
walls that would last out our siege till doomsday. There is treachery
somewhere. Have we not heard, morning by morning, the self-same cry?"

"A whole herd of swine have been martyred in the cause," said Morgan,
sneeringly.

"Every day they have slain a pig," said the leader of the drums. "Two
score and eight," reckoning upon his fingers. "Verily a drove from the
legion."

They knew not that this unfortunate swine, the only one in the garrison,
was made to perform so uncomfortable a duty every morning to mislead the
besiegers, and impress them with the idea of a plentiful supply within
the walls.

"Even the rabble about the garrison throw shives of bread into our
trenches," said Morgan; "and once or twice I have thought their muskets
were loaden with peas instead of pellets."

"Then is our assault the more urgent," replied Rigby: "delay doth not
increase her strength. Prince Rupert too, some fair morning, may jump
between us and head-quarters."

"I have as many grenadoes," said Morgan, "as will save his highness the
trouble. Were he here, I would make him dance the Flemish _coranto_."

"The Amalekites shall ye utterly destroy," said Gideon, with a sudden
indrawing of the breath, as though he were suffering the pangs and
throes of possession. "Neither shall ye spare the women and the little
ones nor the stuff; no, not even a kid for a burnt-offering. Your eye
shall not spare as Saul spare Agag, whom Samuel hewed in pieces."

"Keep thy counsel to light thine own courage. Yon fiery-tempered woman
will not be over-nice in her respect to thy vocation. Peradventure she
may dangle thy carcase over the walls in defiance of our summons."
Morgan would have rebuked him farther, had not Rigby hastily put the
message into his hands, and bade him good speed.

With inward but audible murmurs at this unholy connection, for Morgan
valued not their prayers a rush, Gideon strode forth, his eyes twinkling
grievously as the drizzling rime came on his face. His long ungainly
figure, surmounted by a high-peaked hat, was seen cautiously stealing
through the trenches. Near to the embrasure by Morgan's mortar-piece he
made a sudden halt. After preparing his drum, he first beat the roll to
crave attention. He then stepped upo