If the wall were breached we could hardly hope to defend it, and, indeed, if they constructed plenty of ladders they could scale it at night in a score of places.

We must, therefore, regard the house as our citadel, close up the lower windows and doors with sandbags, and defend it to the last.

Still, if they are determined, the lookout is not a very bright one." "I am in favor of our cutting our way out, Major," Captain Forster said; "if we are cooped up here, we must, as you say, in the long run be beaten." "That would be all very well, Captain Forster, if we were all men," Mr.Hunter said.

"There are sixteen of us and there are in all eighteen horses, for I and Farquharson have two each; but there are eight women and fourteen children; so all the horses would have to carry double.

We certainly could not hope to escape from them with our horses so laden; and if they came up with us, what fighting could we do with women behind our saddles?
Moreover, we certainly could not leave the servants, who have been true to us, to the mercy of the Sepoys." "Besides, where could we go ?" the Doctor asked.