“You may safely leave her in my hands,” interposed Mr. Walters.  “If she wants to learn, let her; it won’t injure her in the least, I’ll take care of that.”  This assurance somewhat quieted Mrs. Ellis, who left the room and took up her quarters in another apartment.

“Now, Mr. Walters,” said Esther, taking off her bonnet, I’m quite in earnest about learning to load these pistols, and I wish you to instruct me.  You may be hard pressed tonight, and unable to load for yourselves, and in such an emergency I could perhaps be of great use to you.”

“But, my child,” replied he, “to be of use in the manner you propose, you would be compelled to remain in quite an exposed situation.”

“I am aware of that,” calmly rejoined Esther.  “And still you are not afraid?” he asked, in surprise.

“Why should I be; I shall not be any more exposed than you or my father.”

“That’s enough—­I’ll teach you.  Look here,” said Mr. Walters, “observe how I load this.”  Esther gave her undivided attention to the work before her, and when he had finished, she took up another pistol and loaded it with a precision and celerity that would have reflected honour on a more practised hand.

“Well done!—­capital!” exclaimed Mr. Walters, as she laid down the weapon.  “You’ll do, my girl; as I said before, you are one after my own heart.  Now, whilst you are loading the rest, I will go downstairs, where I have some little matters to attend to.”  On the stair-way he was met by Kinch and Caddy, who were tugging up a large kettle of water.  “Is it possible, Caddy,” asked Mr. Walters, “that your propensity to dabble in soap and water has overcome you even at this critical time?  You certainly can’t be going to scrub?”

“No, I’m not going to scrub,” she replied, “nor do anything like it.  We’ve got our plans, haven’t we, Kinch?”

“Let’s hear what your plans are.  I’d like to be enlightened a little, if convenient,” said Mr. Walters.

“Well, it’s not convenient, Mr. Walters, so you need not expect to hear a word about them.  You’d only laugh if we were to tell you, so we’re going to keep it to ourselves, ain’t we, Kinch?”

The latter, thus appealed to, put on an air of profound mystery, and intimated that if they were permitted to pursue the even tenor of their way, great results might be expected; but if they were balked in their designs, he could not answer for the consequences.

“You and Esther have your plans,” resumed Caddy, “and we have ours.  We don’t believe in powder and shot, and don’t want anything to do with guns; for my part I’m afraid of them, so please let us go by—­do, now, that’s a good soul!”

“You seem to forget that I’m the commander of this fortress,” said Mr. Walters, “and that I have a right to know everything that transpires within it; but I see you look obstinate, and as I haven’t time to settle the matter now, you may pass on.  I wonder what they can be about,” he remarked, as they hurried on.  “I must steal up by-and-by and see for myself.”