During the day it occurred to him that the men would be all the better for active employment. At the same time, in view of the attempted surprise, it was advisable still further to strengthen their defences.
Accordingly, he set them to dig a ditch a few feet inside the wall. The proper place for it was outside, of course; but to dig it there would expose them to danger. Moreover, the Tubus might fill it up or bridge it. If it were inside, on the other hand, it would form an unexpected obstacle should they scale the wall.
There was not enough water to make a moat of it; but, dug to a depth of several feet, it would seriously embarrass the attackers, even though dry.
The men at the north-east corner, when they had dug about six feet below the surface, came suddenly upon something hard, upon which the sharpened stones they used as spades made no impression. They reported the discovery to Royce, who went to the spot and jumped down so that he might examine the obstruction.
It proved to be a course of brickwork. Taking the spade, Royce dug the earth away from its edge for several feet, wondering what purpose the bricks served.
THE DISCOVERY IN THE DITCH
Perhaps, he thought, they were part of some building still more ancient than the fort itself. It would be interesting to excavate more thoroughly, and find out whether anything of value, in the shape of old weapons, coins, or pottery, lay beneath the foundations.
But that must be a task for the future. At present the business in hand was the completion of the ditch. The bricks being almost level with the bottom of the part which had already been dug out, he decided that it was unnecessary to remove them, and he ordered the men to go on with their work in another direction.