“Yes; either that, sergeant, or a night attack.  In either case I consider that we are safe for a time, but sooner or later our fate is sealed unless aid comes to us, and therefore I propose that one of you should tonight try and bear a message to the Lech.  We can lower him down by the bell rope from this window in the angle where the tower touches the church.  Keeping round by the church he will be in deep shadow until he reaches the other end, and will then be close to the ruins of the village.  Before morning he could reach our camp.”

“I will undertake it myself, sir, if you will allow me,” the sergeant said, while the other men also volunteered for the duty.

“You shall try first, sergeant,” Malcolm said.  “It will be dangerous work, for as the news of our being here spreads the peasants will be coming in from all quarters.  Their numbers are already greatly increased since they commenced the attack, and there must be at least three or four hundred men around us.  They will be sure to keep a sharp lookout against our escaping, and it will need all your care and caution to get through them.”

“Never fear, sir,” the man replied confidently.  “I have stalked the deer scores of times, and it will be hard if I cannot crawl through a number of thick witted Bavarian peasants.”

“Even beyond the village you will have to keep your eyes open, as you may meet parties of peasants on their way here.  Fortunately you will have no difficulty in keeping the road, so well beaten is it by the march of the army.  If by tomorrow night no rescue arrives I shall consider that you have been taken or killed, and shall try with the others to make my way through.  It would be better to die sword in hand while we have still the strength to wield our arms than to be cooped up here until too weak any longer to defend ourselves, and then to be slowly tortured to death.”

As soon as it was dusk a sentry was placed on the top of the tower, with orders to report the slightest sound or stir.  During the day this had not been necessary, for a view could be obtained from the windows, and the men with firearms, who had now considerably increased in numbers, kept up a constant fire at the tower.

An hour later the sentry reported that he could hear the sound of many feet in the darkness, with the occasional snapping as of dry twigs.

“They are going to burn down the door,” Malcolm said.  “That is what I expected.  Now, sergeant, is your time.  They are all busy and intent upon their purpose.  You could not have a better time.”

The rope was fastened round the sergeant’s waist, and with some difficulty he squeezed himself through the narrow window, after listening attentively to discover if any were below.

All seemed perfectly still on this side, and he was gradually and steadily lowered down.  Presently those above felt the rope slack.  Another minute and it swung loosely.  It was drawn up again, and Malcolm, placing one of the men at the loophole, with instructions to listen intently for any sound of alarm or conflict, turned his attention to the other side.