"
There was no more hesitation, and a cannonball, the first which the
Imperialists had fired, at that moment crashed into a house hard
by, and sharpened their decision wonderfully.
"I have no great store of provisions in the castle," the count said,
"and although I deem it not likely that we shall have to stand a
long siege we must be prepared for it. There are already more than
700 of your wives and children there, therefore while half of the
force continue to show themselves upon the walls, and so deter
the enemy from attempting an assault until they have opened some
breaches, let the rest carry up provisions to the castle. Any houses
from which the women have fled are at once to be broken open. All
that we leave behind the enemy will take, and the less we leave
for them the better; therefore all stores and magazines of food and
wine must be considered as public property. Let the men at once be
divided into two bodies -- the one to guard the walls, the other
to search for and carry up provisions. They can be changed every
three or four hours."
The resolution was taken and carried into effect without delay. Most
of the horses and carts in the town had left with the fugitives,
those that remained were at once set to work. The carts were
laden with large barrels of wine and sacks of flour, while the men
carried sides of bacon, kegs of butter, and other portable articles
on their heads.
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