You will examine the well regularly, and note whether there is any change in the look of the water.

I think you will find plenty to do." "Thank you, Major," Bathurst said.

"I appreciate your kindness, and for the present, at any rate, will gladly undertake the work of looking after the stores and servants; but there is one thing I have been thinking of, and which I should like to speak to you about at once, if you could spare a minute or two before you turn in." "What is that, Bathurst ?" "I think that we are agreed, Major, that though we may hold this place for a time, sooner or later we must either surrender or the place be carried by storm." Major Hannay nodded.
"That is what it must come to, Bathurst.

If they will at last grant us terms, well and good; if not, we must either try to escape or die fighting." "It is about the escape I have been thinking, Major; as our position grows more and more desperate they will close round us, and although we might have possibly got through last night, our chances of doing so when they have once broken into the inclosure and begin to attack the house itself are very slight.

A few of us who can speak the language well might possibly in disguise get away, but it would be impossible for the bulk of us to do so." "I quite see that, Bathurst." "My proposal is, Major, that we should begin at once to mine; that is, to drive a gallery from the cellar, and to carry it on steadily as far as we can.