Three hearty cheers were given, and then the general hurried off to
superintend the preparations for the defense of the quarter threatened by
the attack from Johannes' house, if indeed that attack should not be
postponed, owing to the discouragement which the blow just inflicted would
naturally spread. Surrounded by their comrades, the Warreners re-entered
the house.

"What was that terrible explosion?" "What has happened?" was asked by a
score of female voices as they entered.

"Good news," Mr. Gubbins said; "you can sleep in peace. The guns of the
battery which has annoyed us are all spiked, and their magazine blown up,
and all this without the loss of a man, thanks to the Warreners, who went
out alone and disabled all the guns, by wetting the primings. All your
thanks are due to them."

There was a general cry of grateful joy; for since the battery had begun
to play upon the house, no one had felt that his own life or the lives of
those dearest to him were safe for a moment. All were dressed, for in
these times of peril no one went regularly to bed; and they now crowded
round the boys, shaking them by the hand, patting them on the shoulders,
many crying for very joy and relief.

Mrs. Hargreaves was standing at the door, and the boys went up to her. She
drew back the curtain for them to enter; for, sure that the boys intended
to carry out some desperate enterprise, none of her family had even lain
down. Mr. Hargreaves and Mr. Righton followed them in.

"We were all praying for you," she said simply, "as if you had been my own
sons; for you were doing as much for me and mine as my own could have