I
    'What shall we do?' said Audrey.

　　She looked at me hopefully, as if I were a mine of ideas. Hervoice was level, without a suggestion of fear in it. Women havethe gift of being courageous at times when they might legitimatelygive way. It is part of their unexpectedness.

　　This was certainly such an occasion. Daylight would bring usrelief, for I did not suppose that even Buck MacGinnis would careto conduct a siege which might be interrupted by the arrival oftradesmen's carts; but while the darkness lasted we werecompletely cut off from the world. With the destruction of thetelephone wire our only link with civilization had been snapped.

　　Even had the night been less stormy than it was, there was nochance of the noise of our warfare reaching the ears of anyone whomight come to the rescue. It was as Sam had said, Buck's energyunited to his strategy formed a strong combination.

　　Broadly speaking, there are only two courses open to a beleagueredgarrison. It can stay where it is, or it can make a sortie. Iconsidered the second of these courses.

　　It was possible that Sam and his allies had departed in theautomobile to get reinforcements, leaving the coast temporarilyclear; in which case, by escaping from the house at once, we mightbe able to slip unobserved through the grounds and reach thevillage in safety. To support this theory there was the fact thatthe car, on its late visit, had contained only the chauffeur andthe two ambassadors, while Sam had spoken of the remainder ofBuck's gang as being in readiness to attack in the event of my notcoming to terms. That might mean that they were waiting at Buck'sheadquarters, wherever those might be--at one of the cottages downthe road, I imagined; and, in the interval before the attackbegan, it might be possible for us to make our sortie withsuccess.

　　'Is Ogden in bed?' I asked.

　　'Yes.'

　　'Will you go and get him up as quickly as you can?'

　　I strained my eyes at the window, but it was impossible to seeanything. The rain was still falling heavily. If the drive hadbeen full of men they would have been invisible to me.

　　Presently Audrey returned, followed by Ogden. The Little Nuggetwas yawning the aggrieved yawns of one roused from his beautysleep.

　　'What's all this?' he demanded.

　　'Listen,' I said. 'Buck MacGinnis and Smooth Sam Fisher have comeafter you. They are outside now. Don't be frightened.'

　　He snorted derisively.

　　'Who's frightened? I guess they won't hurt _me_. How do you knowit's them?'

　　'They have just been here. The man who called himself White, thebutler, was really Sam Fisher. He has been waiting an opportunityto get you all the term.'

　　'White! Was he Sam Fisher?' He chuckled admiringly. 'Say, he's awonder!'

　　'They have gone to fetch the rest of the gang.'