“Thine ungodly speeches, Master Morgan, I would humbly trust, may not be as the fuel that, when the fire cometh, shall consume the camp, even the righteous with the wicked,” said Gideon, as if shrinking from the contact of so unholy a personage.

Morgan replied not to this deprecation, save by swearing—­covertly, though it might be—­at the impudence and insubordination of these inferior agents, whose disorderly conduct it was necessary to connive at, while they were looked upon as saints and prophets—­men from whose presence was impiously expected the blessing and protection of heaven.

A loud screaming was heard, and Rigby, darting a furious look through the doorway, ordered it to be closed.

“Another porker!” said he.  “I verily think she hath provision behind the walls that would last out our siege till doomsday.  There is treachery somewhere.  Have we not heard, morning by morning, the self-same cry?”

“A whole herd of swine have been martyred in the cause,” said Morgan, sneeringly.

“Every day they have slain a pig,” said the leader of the drums.  “Two score and eight,” reckoning upon his fingers.  “Verily a drove from the legion.”

They knew not that this unfortunate swine, the only one in the garrison, was made to perform so uncomfortable a duty every morning to mislead the besiegers, and impress them with the idea of a plentiful supply within the walls.

“Even the rabble about the garrison throw shives of bread into our trenches,” said Morgan; “and once or twice I have thought their muskets were loaden with peas instead of pellets.”

“Then is our assault the more urgent,” replied Rigby:  “delay doth not increase her strength.  Prince Rupert too, some fair morning, may jump between us and head-quarters.”

“I have as many grenadoes,” said Morgan, “as will save his highness the trouble.  Were he here, I would make him dance the Flemish coranto.”

“The Amalekites shall ye utterly destroy,” said Gideon, with a sudden indrawing of the breath, as though he were suffering the pangs and throes of possession.  “Neither shall ye spare the women and the little ones nor the stuff; no, not even a kid for a burnt-offering.  Your eye shall not spare as Saul spare Agag, whom Samuel hewed in pieces.”

“Keep thy counsel to light thine own courage.  Yon fiery-tempered woman will not be over-nice in her respect to thy vocation.  Peradventure she may dangle thy carcase over the walls in defiance of our summons.”  Morgan would have rebuked him farther, had not Rigby hastily put the message into his hands, and bade him good speed.