The tone was enthusiastic enough, but the enthusiasm was tempered by an undue dutifulness.

In the early hours of the morning, John was awakened by a rifle shot and, as he sat up, heard it replied to from somewhere outside. He sat up, reaching for his revolver, and called to Roger, hearing him grunt something m reply.

Arm said:'What's that?'

'Nothing much, probably. A stroller, hoping for easy pickings, maybe. You and Olivia stay here and see to the children. We'll go and have a look.'

The sentry's duty was to patrol outside the house, but he found Joe Harris, whose turn it was, staring out of a front room window on the ground floor. He was a thin dark man, with a heavy stubble of beard. His eyes gleamed in the moonlight, which shone into the house here.

'What's happening?' John asked him.

'I seen 'em when I was outside,' Harris said. 'Comin'

up the valley from Sedbergh way. I figured it might be best not to disturb 'em in case they was going' right on up the valley, so came on back into the house, and kept a watch from here.'

'Well?'

'They turned up towards the house. When I was certain they was coming this way, I had a crack at the bloke in front.'

'Did you hit him?'

'No. I don't think so. Another one had a shot back, and then they went down among the shrubs. They're still out there, Mr Custance.'

'How many?'

'It's hard to say, in this light. Might have been a dozen - maybe more.'

'As many as that?'