“It does not appear to me, Bob, such a heavy job as Joel represents!  The gates are heavy, certainly, and may take us a day or two; but, as for stockading—­I’ve seen barracks stockaded in, in a week, if I remember right.  You know something of this—­what is your opinion?”

“That this house can be stockaded in, in the time you mention; and, as I have a strong reluctance to leave the family before it is in security, with your permission I will remain and superintend the work.”

The offer was gladly accepted, on more accounts than one; and the captain, accustomed to be obeyed when he was in earnest, issued his orders forthwith, to let the work proceed.  Joel, however, was excused, in order that he might finish the planting he had commenced, and which a very few hands could complete within the required time.  As no ditch was necessary, the work was of a very simple nature, and the major set about his portion of it without even re-entering the house.

The first thing was to draw a line for a trench some six or seven feet deep, that was to encircle the whole building, at a distance of about thirty yards from the house.  This line ran, on each side of the Hut, on the very verge of the declivities, rendering the flanks far more secure than the front, where it crossed the lawn on a gently inclining surface.  In one hour the major had traced this lines with accuracy; and he had six or eight men at work with spades, digging the trench.  A gang of hands was sent into the woods, with orders to cut the requisite quantify of young chestnuts; and, by noon, a load of the material actually appeared on the ground.  Still, nothing was done to the gates.

To own the truth, the captain was now delighted.  The scene reminded him of some in his military life, and he bustled about, giving his orders, with a good deal of the fire of youth renewed, taking care, however, in no manner to interfere with the plans of his son.  Mike buried himself like a mole, and had actually advanced several feet, before either of the Yankees had got even a fair footing on the bottom of his part of the trench.  As for Jamie Allen, he went to work with deliberation; but it was not long before his naked gray hairs were seen on a level with the surface of the ground.  The digging was not hard, though a little stony, and the work proceeded with spirit and success.  All that day, and the next, and the next, and the next, the Knoll appeared alive, earth being cast upward, teams moving, carpenters sawing, and labourers toiling.  Many of the men protested that their work was useless, unnecessary, unlawful even; but no one dared hesitate under the eyes of the major, when his father had once issued a serious command.  In the mean time, Joel’s planting was finished, though he made many long pauses while at work on the flats, to look up and gaze at the scene of activity and bustle that was presented at the Knoll.  On the fourth day, towards evening, he was obliged to join the general “bee,” with the few hands he had retained with himself.