Malcolm rose to his feet to reconnoitre, standing far back from the loophole as he did so.

A group of some eight or ten peasants were standing looking at the tower, while a woman was pointing to it and talking eagerly.
It was towards the windows that she was pointing, and Malcolm guessed at once that, having returned in the early morning to see what remained of her home, she had happened to notice the garments stuffed in the windows, and had carried the news to some of her companions.

Malcolm regretted bitterly now that he had not set a watch, so that at the first gleam of daylight the windows might have been unblocked; but it was now too late.
"We shall have to fight for it, lads," he said, turning round.

"Our clothes must have been seen early this morning, and there is a party of peasants watching the tower.

Of course they cannot know at present whether we are friends or foes; but no doubt the news of last evening's doings has travelled through the country, and the peasants are on the lookout for us, so they may well guess that we are here.