At any rate, here we have got walls to light behind, and food for weeks, and plenty of ammunition.

I am for selling our lives as dearly as we can here rather than go outside to be chased like jackals." "I agree with you, Doolan," Captain Rintoul said.

"Here we may be able to make terms with them, but once outside the walls we should be at the scoundrels' mercy.

If it were not for the women and children I should agree entirely with Forster that our best plan would be to throw open our gates and make a dash for it, keeping together as long as we could, and then, if necessary, separating and trying to make our way down to Agra or Allahabad as best we could; but with ladies that does not seem to be possible." The opinion of the married civilians was entirely in accord with that of Mr.Hunter.
"But what hope is there of defending this place in the long run ?" Captain Forster said.

"If I saw any chance at all I should be quite willing to wait; but I would infinitely rather sally out at once and go for them and be killed than wait here day after day and perhaps week after week, seeing one's fate drawing nearer inch by inch.