In a few minutes we will have a roaring fire; but we must beware lest a gleam of light be visible without, for this belfry can be seen for miles round." Some of the boards were soon split up into fragments; but before the light was applied to them Malcolm carefully examined each window and loophole to be sure that they were perfectly stopped.

Then the slow match was placed in the centre of a number of pieces of dry and rotten wood.

One of the men kneeling down blew lustily, and in a few seconds a flame sprang up.

The wood was now heaped on, and a bright fire was soon blazing high.
A trapdoor leading out on to the flat top of the tower was opened for the escape of the smoke, and the party then seated themselves round the fire, under whose genial warmth their spirits speedily rose.

They now took from their wallets the bread which they had brought away with them.
"If we had," one of the soldiers said, "but a few flasks of Rhine wine with us we need not envy a king." "No," Malcolm replied, "we are better off at present than our comrades who are sleeping in the snow round the watchfires; but for all that I would that we were with them, for we have a long and dangerous march before us.