"They have got a plan of some sort," Malcolm said; "what it is I
have no idea, but they certainly seem confident about it. Look at
those fellows throwing up their caps and waving their arms. I do
not see how we can be attacked, but I do not like these signs of
confidence on their part, for they know now how strong our position
is. It seems to me that we are impregnable except against artillery."
Unable to repress his uneasiness Malcolm wandered from window to
window watching attentively what was going on without, but keeping
himself as far back as possible from the loopholes; for the men
with muskets kept up a dropping fire at the openings, and although
their aim was poor, bullets occasionally passed in and flattened
themselves against the opposite walls.
"There is a man returning," he said in about half an hour; "he is
carrying something on his shoulder, but I cannot see what it is."
In another ten minutes the man had reached the group of peasants
standing two or three hundred yards from the church, and was greeted
with cheers and waving of hats.
"Good heavens!" Malcolm exclaimed suddenly, "it is a barrel of
powder. They must have stripped some broken down ammunition wagon.
This is a danger indeed."
The men grasped their weapons and rose to their feet at the news,
prepared to take any steps which their young officer might command,
for his promptitude and ingenuity had inspired them with unbounded
confidence in him.
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