a tower in excellent preservation. Sand, who was one of the most eager
fighters, seeing that his side had several times been defeated on account
of its numerical inferiority, resolved, in order to make up for this
drawback, to fortify the tower of St. Catherine, and to retire into it at
the next battle if its issue proved unfavourable to him. He communicated
this plan to his companions, who received it with enthusiasm. A week was
spent, accordingly, in collecting all possible weapons of defence in the
tower and in repairing its doors and stairs. These preparations were
made so secretly that the army of the enemy had no knowledge of them.

Sunday came: the holidays were the days of battle. Whether because the
boys were ashamed of having been beaten last time, or for some other
reason, the band to which Sand belonged was even weaker than usual.
Sure, however, of a means of retreat, he accepted battle,
notwithstanding. The struggle was not a long one; the one party was too
weak in numbers to make a prolonged resistance, and began to retire in
the best order that could be maintained to St. Catherine's tower, which
was reached before much damage had been felt. Having arrived there, some
of the combatants ascended to the ramparts, and while the others defended
themselves at the foot of the wall, began to shower stones and pebbles
upon the conquerors. The latter, surprised at the new method of defence
which was now for the first time adopted, retreated a little; the rest of
the defenders took advantage of the moment to retire into the fortress
and shut the door. Great was the astonishment an the part of the
besiegers: they had always seen that door broken down, and lo! all at
once it was presenting to them a barrier which preserved the besieged
from their blows. Three or four went off to find instruments with which
to break it down and meanwhile the rest of the attacking farce kept the
garrison blockaded.