"Well, I suppose you've done all you can. It would be nonsense to engage them in the open, but with our men posted about the square not more than two-thirds of them can get action at once. Those poor devils are as well armed as we and are wrought upon by fanaticism. It is going to be desperate for a time. At first they'll be furious. Has any one heard of Mayo?" "He's at their head and the Frenchman is with him." "How is the sheriff?" "Dead." They filed into the court-house, where a number of men were already gathered, posted above and below. "Bring an axe and cut loop-holes," the Major commanded. "When the fight begins you can't very well fire from the windows. How are you, Uncle Parker?" "Able to be about, Major. You wan't old enough for the Mexican War, was you? No, of course not. But I was there and this here fightin' agin such odds puts me in mind of it." "Good morning, Major." It was the voice of the County Judge. "Good morning, sir. I see you have a gun. Don't you think it impolitic? But pardon me. This is no time for ill-humored banter." The Judge bowed. "Now I recall John Cranceford, the soldier," said he. "This is a great pity that has come upon us, Major," he added. "Worse than that," the Major replied. "It is a curse. The first man who landed a slave in America ought to have been hanged." "And what about the men who freed them?" "They were American soldiers, sir, as brave a body of men as ever trod the face of the earth. Captain Batts, what are you trying to do there?" "Thought I'd take a nap," old Gid answered. "You can wake me up when the fight begins--don't want to miss it." "If you go to sleep I will court-martial you, sir. Superintend the cutting of the loop-holes." "All right, don't believe I'm very sleepy anyway;" and as he shuffled away the Englishman turned to the Major and asked: "And is he game, sir?" "As a lion," the Major answered. "But he blows, you know," said the Englishman. "And so does a lion roar, sir," the Major rejoined. The Major inspected the other posts, to the right and left of the square, and then took active command of the lower floor of the court-house; and when the holes had been cut Gid was told to command the floor above. Tom Cranceford was ordered to serve on the floor above. At this he began to grumble, pouting that he couldn't be in the rush if one should come; but the Major stormed at him. "It is more dangerous up there if that's what you want, and I'll be with you now and then to see that you are kept busy. March this instant or I'll drive you to home duty under Wash Sanders."