As soon as the fires were seen, the women and children were to take to the hills, the cattle to be driven off by the boys, and the men to arm themselves and mount.
"Of course," the countess said, at a council where all these arrangements were made, "we must be guided by the number sent against us.

If, by uniting your bands together, you think you can raise the siege, we will sally out as soon as you attack and join you; but do not attack, unless you think that our united forces can defeat them.

If we could defeat them, we should save your chateaux and farms from fire and ruin.
"If you find they are too strong to attack, you might harass parties sent out to plunder, and so save your houses, while you despatch men to ask for help from the Admiral.

If, however, they are so strong in cavalry that you could not keep the field against them, I should say it were best that you should ride away, and join any party advancing to our assistance." A month passed quietly.

Every day, a soldier carrying wine and provisions rode to the hut that had been built, on the crest of the hill three miles away.
Eight o'clock one evening, towards the end of January, the alarm bell rang from the lookout tower.