"Our allies ze Bulgars zis vay come. Not understand? Zey attack zis place. Ve sit on high explosive below; ze Bulgars shoot high explosive above; ve are blowed to--vat you call it?--schmiddereens!"
"Surely your allies love you too well; they will not subject you to such risks."
"I know not so much about zat. Zey love us--yes; but if it is zeir duty zey blow us up all ze same."
"We shall all be in the same boat, then. But perhaps you have something to suggest?"
"It is ze law of nations zat you keep us safe."
"You are quite safe so far as we are concerned. Obviously I cannot remove you. If your friends shell us--well!"
"But you can remove ze dynamite. You can take it out, inter it, shuck it into--vat you call it?--a gully."
"We haven't time for that. But I have an idea. There is a long tunnel leading from the cellar. If you and your companions care to carry the dynamite to the farther end of the tunnel, it will be out of harm's way so far as the tower is concerned."
"Zat is not ze vork of German officers."
"No; quite so. If I were you I wouldn't do it. But, as you may have gathered, I intend to hold the tower as long as I can. Your cavalry is already on the move. It will not be long before they attack. If you care to remove the dynamite, you may stay in the cellar until--until I fetch you out. Otherwise you will remain here."