Twenty men here could keep a host at bay." Another tier of unskinned carcasses was laid down behind the breastwork, for the defenders to stand on; and earth was piled over it, to afford a footing.
They had but just completed their preparations when the trumpet, from above, sounded the signal that the enemy were approaching.

All took the posts that they had before occupied.

The enemy approached as they had expected, in three bodies; each preceded by a detachment that carried in front of them great faggots, which served as a protection against the missiles of the besieged.

Among them were men carrying sacks.
"What can they have there ?" Philip asked one of the Huguenot gentlemen.
"I should say it was earth," he replied "Earth ?" Philip repeated, puzzled.

"What can they want that for ?" "I should think it is to cover the planks thickly, before they lay down the faggots; otherwise the planks would burn, and perhaps fall bodily in the water, before the fire had done its work on the doors." "No doubt that is it," Philip agreed.