"But set me to something where my confounded leg don't get in the way, and I'm still pretty useful!" Dougal, mopping his brow with the rag he called his handkerchief, observed sourly that he objected to going scouting with a herd of elephants.
Once indoors his spirits rose.

The party from the Mains had brought several electric torches, and the one lamp was presently found and lit.
"We can't count on the polis," Dougal announced, "and when the foreigners is finished wi' the Tower they'll come on here.

If no', we must make them.

What is it the sodgers call it?
Forcin' a battle?
Now see here! There's the two roads into this place, the back door and the verandy, leavin' out the front door which is chained and lockit.
They'll try those two roads first, and we must get them well barricaded in time.

But mind, if there's a good few o' them, it'll be an easy job to batter in the front door or the windies, so we maun be ready for that." He told off a fatigue party--the Princess, Sir Archie, and McGuffog--to help in moving furniture to the several doors.