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246 grounded. Without ammunition the house was little better than at the mercy of the Governor should he send a strong force to attack it. And they had neither enough muskets to arm the men, nor enough powder for the scanty guns.

"At the last gasp we shall have to take the chance of a fight, of course," he said when he had completed his inspection; "and the fighting must be done from the north wing of the house. But we must first exhaust every other means."

"In that wing we could keep them at bay for a month if it were only hand to hand work; but the Governor has cannon," said Dubois.

"We must hope that the news of our presence does not reach him until too late. See to it that nothing about the place raises suspicions, and if any messengers come from him let them enter the house and be detained."

"Would God he would come himself," exclaimed Pascal.

"Ah, it's easy to 'would God' a good many things," growled Dubois. "You had better rest, my lord, at any rate until the day is warmed. I'll have you called at the slightest sign of need. You may want all your strength for the morrow's work. We'll set the watch and let the men sleep too, Pascal. They'll fight the better for it, if it has to come to fighting in the end."

The two left him then, and as they stood in the great hall Pascal said—

"You mind my words in the market place, Dubois, that a woman had to be reckoned with now. He has the fever badly. I know the symptoms."

"You ought to, you've had it yourself often enough," returned Dubois.

"And shall again, I hope. 'Tis a sweet malady, you old sour-heart; but it doesn't help a man to act; and it won't help us now. Do you follow me?"