"Mr. Shillito, will you go up to the upper room, and keep an eye on the stables? Shoot down anyone who may pass your line of sight.
"Haven't you got any loopholes, Caister?"
"Yes, of course I have," Dick replied. "I had forgotten all about them. Yes, there are two loopholes in the logs in each side of the house, upstairs. They have been shut up by wisps of straw, ever since the house was built."
Giving strict orders, to the two men, to shout instantly if anyone moved near the window, the two young men went upstairs.
"Have you seen anything, Shillito?"
"Not a thing. One would almost think that they have bolted."
"They will hardly do that, I fancy," Reuben said. "There are ten or twelve of them, but I think one or two must have got a bullet in them."
"I wish they would come on," Dick said, as he pulled out the straw from the loopholes.
Reuben went to them all in succession, and looked out, but nothing could be seen of their assailants. Presently, however, a number of dark figures appeared, each bearing a burden.
"They have been cutting brush wood!" Reuben exclaimed. "I was right, you see. They are going to try to smoke or burn us out. Now I think it's time to give them a lesson."