Robin Hood's Barn 



itary victory. Nor may we bring our prisoners 

 in. For we have set a trap we may not spring 

 and to make good our conquest, we must hold 

 painful vigil at the mouth. We should be in 

 for a long night's watch were it not that at last 

 a lantern wavers down the hillside and that suc- 

 cor comes. This time it is brought by the com- 

 mander of the enemy who has had news of the 

 fray. Little he cares for our predicament. He 

 gives no greeting, makes no comment, but goes 

 silently to work. Thud follows thud as he levels 

 a portion of the rampart and opens up a breach. 

 And once he has made an exit for escape, he 

 musters quietly his forces till with a crackling 

 of the underbrush he leads them through. 



As we make repairs by reconstructing a tem- 

 porary entanglement, I know that the nice 

 moment for recriminations has arrived. There is 

 no commendation for any meritorious service, and 

 no reward for valor. By my landlord I am ac- 

 cused of willful treason in treating with the enemy 

 and hotly I make countercharge of sloth. Repri- 

 mands fly back and forth. Now pressure is 

 removed there is division in the ranks. But when 



[230] 



