The captain, after embracing his friend, and promising faithfully to
maintain the secret, revealed, as Rutter intended he should, the whole
of his confidential story to the enemy's council; who, giving credit to
the tale, laid aside, for the present, all thoughts of an attack, and
resolved to invest the place in a close and formal siege.
Fourteen days being expired, and they, supposing her provisions were
nigh spent, and the garrison reduced to the last extremity, sent another
and more peremptory summons. But during this time her soldiers were
training, the walls and fortifications were undergoing a thorough
repair, and the cannon properly served and mounted. The fortress, too,
was well stocked, and even abundantly stored with provisions, in spite
of their enemies, who kept a strict watch, but failed to detect the
source and manner of the supply. She was not without hope, too, of
relief from the king's troops, whom she daily expected to her
assistance.
The besiegers finding themselves deceived, their confidence abused, and
their schemes only serving to the advantage of the opposite party,
orders were given and preparations made for more offensive measures, by
drawing a line of circumvallation round the house.
Pages:
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655