"We must at all hazards," he said after a few minutes thought,
"prevent them from storing these barrels below. Remove the barricade
of bodies and then carry the door down the stairs. We must fix it
again on the bottom steps. The bottom stair is but a foot or two
inside the doorway; if you place it there it will hinder their
rushing up to attack you, and your pikes, as you stand above it,
will prevent any from placing their barrels inside.
"I will take my place at the loophole as before. We cannot prevent
their crawling round from behind as they did to light the faggots;
but if they pile them outside, they may blow in a hole in the wall
of the tower, but it is possible that even then it may not fall.
Two will be sufficient to hold the stairs, at any rate for the
present. Do you, Cameron, take your place on the tower, and drop
stones over on any who may try to make their way round from behind;
even if you do no harm you will make them careful and delay the
operation, and every hour now is of consequence."
Malcolm's instructions were carried out, and all was in readiness
before the peasants, some of whom had to go considerable distances,
had returned with the powder.
The lesson of the previous evening had evidently not been lost upon
the peasants, for Malcolm saw a tall man who was acting as their
leader wave his hand, and those who had brought the powder started
to make a detour round the church.
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