We shall be round the corner of the house before they can get fairly over the breastwork.

We will set to work to raise that as soon as it gets dark." A breastwork of sandbags had already been erected behind the breach, in case the enemy should make a sudden rush, and a couple of hours' labor transformed this into a strong work; for the bags were already filled, and only needed placing in position.

When completed, it extended in a horseshoe shape, some fifteen feet across, behind the gap in the wall.
For nine feet from the ground it was composed of sandbags three deep, and a single line was then laid along the edge to serve as a parapet.
"I don't think they will get over that," the Major said, when the work was finished.

"I doubt if they will be disposed even to try when they reach the breach." Before beginning their work they had cleared away all the fallen brickwork from behind the breach, and a number of bricks were laid on the top of the sandbags to be used as missiles.
"A brick is as good as a musket ball at this distance," the Major said; "and when our guns are empty we can take to them; there are enough spare rifles for us to have five each, and, with those and our revolvers and the bricks, we ought to be able to account for an army.

There are some of the servants and syces who can be trusted to load.