They said that so long as they did not wander about unguarded, there was little danger of any fresh attack upon them, and if one should by chance be made, with the aid of the men they had they could hold the Hall against a company until help was summoned.

Moreover, at heart, none of them believed that Saladin or his emissaries would stir in this business before the spring, or more probably until another year had passed.

Still, they always set guards at night, and, besides themselves, kept twenty men sleeping at the Hall.

Also they arranged that on the lighting of a signal fire upon the tower of Steeple Church their neighbours should come to succour them.
So the time went on towards Christmas, before which the weather changed and became calm, with sharp frost.
It was on the shortest day that Prior John rode up to the Hall and told them that he was going to Southminster to buy some wine for the Christmas feast.

Sir Andrew asked what wine there was at Southminster.