"
"It cannot be helped," Malcolm said, "they were sure to succeed
sooner or later. Call the others down from the roof."
The door at the top of the stairs was now closed, and the crevices
were stuffed tightly with strips torn from the men's clothes so
as to prevent the smoke from entering when the door below gave way
to the flames. A broad glare of light now lit up the scene, and
showers of sparks, and an occasional tongue of flame were visible
through the window.
"Shut down the trapdoor in the roof," Malcolm said, "that will
check the draught through the windows."
The wood was dry, and what smoke made its way in through the window
found its way out through the loopholes of the upper chamber without
seriously incommoding those below.
"We can take it easy, now," Malcolm said as he set the example by
sitting down against the wall. "It will be hours before the stonework
below will be cool enough to permit them to attack."
"They are lighting a circle of fires all round the church," one of
the soldiers said looking out.
"They think we shall be trying to escape, now that our door is
burned. They are too late; I trust our messenger is miles away by
this time."
In half an hour the flames died away, but a deep red glow showed
that the pile of embers was still giving out an intense heat.
One of the men was now placed on the top of the tower again, as a
measure of precaution, but it was certain that hours would elapse
before an attack could be made.
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