The freebooters were to be allowed to pass along until the foremost fell into the pit.
The men stationed there were at once to haul upon the rope attached to the tree near it and to bring it down.

Its fall would bar the road and prevent the horsemen from leaping the pit.

Those in the rear were, if they heard the crash before the last of the marauders had passed through, to wait until they had closed up, which they were sure to do when the obstacle was reached, and then to fell the tree to bar their retreat.
The instant this was done both parties were to run to other ropes and to bring down the trees upon the horsemen gathered on the road, and were then to fall upon them with axe, pike, and arquebus.
"If it works as well as I expect," Malcolm said, "not one of them will escape from the trap." Soon after daybreak bowls of milk and trays of bread and meat were brought down to the workers by some of the women.

As there was no immediate expectation of attack, the farmer himself, with the pastor, went back to the village to cheer the women before their departure.
"You need not be afraid, wife," the farmer said.

"I shall keep to my plans, because when you have once made a plan it is foolish to change it; but I deem not that there is any real need for sending you and the wagons and beasts away.