Still I did my best and saved some lives, though many cases developed gangrene and slipped through my fingers.
Meanwhile Higgs, who worked nobly, notwithstanding his flesh wounds, which pained him considerably, and Orme were also doing their best with the assistance of Japhet and the other officers of the highland regiment.

The palace was thoroughly examined, and all weak places in its defences were made good.

The available force was divided into watches and stationed to the best advantage.

A number of men were set to work to manufacture arrow shafts from cedar beams, of which there were plenty in the wooden stables and outhouses that lay at the back of the main building, and to point and wing the same from a supply of iron barbs and feathers which fortunately was discovered in one of the guard-houses.

A few horses that remained in a shed were killed and salted down for food, and so forth.
Also every possible preparation was made to repel attempts to storm, paving stones being piled up to throw upon the heads of assailants and fires lighted on the walls to heat pitch and oil and water for the same purpose.
But, to our disappointment, no direct assault was delivered, such desperate methods not commending themselves to the Abati.