properly speaking, the
embrasure--which opened on the courtyard; and at last, finding that they
could not force their way in, a number of them brought some heavy masses
of timber, with which they completely blocked it up, so that the gun
could not be fired through it.

As it was necessary to have a strong party to protect the lower part of
the house, now attacked, several of the garrison were summoned from the
upper story; when I learned from them that two or three had been killed,
and five or six wounded,--who, poor fellows, were affording ample
occupation to Doctor Stutterheim. Should the attack be continued with
the same fury as at first, the banditti might succeed, in spite of the
determined resistance we were making. That they still hoped to do so,
was shown by the way they were attacking the door; but as we had two
guns ready to receive them, besides a number of men with muskets and
pikes, we did not despair of driving them back, even should they break
down the barricade.

While we were standing ready, my uncle recollected that the port on the
south side was left unguarded, and Gerald and Tim were sent round to
watch it. Directly afterwards Gerald came running back, saying that
just before they reached it they saw a couple of black legs going
through, and on looking out they discovered Gab scampering down the
hill. They both fired, but missed him, as he at that instant, either
intentionally or by chance, fell flat on the ground. He quickly picked
himself up, however, and before they could reload he had got under
shelter. They had little doubt that his intention was to join
Aqualonga, and lead some of the people through the unguarded port; so
Gerald begged that two or more men might be sent to assist in its
defence. This was of course done, though they could ill be spared.

All this time the battering-ram was crashing against the door,
notwithstanding that several of those working it were one by one picked
off by our marksmen in the upper story. In so doing they were exposed
to the fire of our assailants at the further end of the courtyard, who
kept peppering away at us without cessation.

"I fear, Desmond, that we shall before long exhaust our powder," I heard
my eldest uncle observe to my father; "it is already fearfully
diminished."

"We shall drive the enemy back before then, I hope," was the answer; "it
will never do, by slackening our fire, to let them suppose that we are
likely to run short of