This is a danger indeed." The men grasped their weapons and rose to their feet at the news, prepared to take any steps which their young officer might command, for his promptitude and ingenuity had inspired them with unbounded confidence in him.
"We must at all hazards," he said after a few minutes thought, "prevent them from storing these barrels below.

Remove the barricade of bodies and then carry the door down the stairs.

We must fix it again on the bottom steps.

The bottom stair is but a foot or two inside the doorway; if you place it there it will hinder their rushing up to attack you, and your pikes, as you stand above it, will prevent any from placing their barrels inside.
"I will take my place at the loophole as before.

We cannot prevent their crawling round from behind as they did to light the faggots; but if they pile them outside, they may blow in a hole in the wall of the tower, but it is possible that even then it may not fall.