The governor had not overlooked the supply of provi-
sions. It was the end of the summer. All the harvest
produce of the neighbourhood had been ordered to be
brought into the town. A pair of millstones, which were
still available after the establishment of the saw-mill, was
at work night and day. All the provisions stored in the
houses were to be deposited in the abbey or the castle, on
pain of death, and the inhabitants received their several
rations like the soldiers. A large store of grain and
vegetables laid up in the abbey considerably increased the



Fl/iSr DEFENCES AGAINST FIRE ARTILLERY. 237

supplies of provisions. The Sire de Montcler had of course
laid hands on these provisions.
The old men and young children were occupied in mak-
ing gabions and cutting turf for the taluses of the boule-
vards. Behind the north front the governor had a good




Fig.
trench dug, demolishing some houses, with retrenchment
and good gabionades on the flanks for artillery. The
north wall of the abbey was terraced and united to the
east curtain by a retrenchment with a ditch.
238 ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
The Sire de Montcler was a good-humoured rnan, fami-
liar with all, present everywhere and talking to everybody ;
and, thanks to his jocular and pleasant ways, the gooxi
people saw their houses demolished and the soil of their
gardens taken away to make ditches and epaulements
without being greatly distressed.
When everything was well prepared for the defence,
however, the governor sent away all useless mouths.
Women, children, and old men had to seek an asylum in
the environs. After this, the western faubourg was burned
to prevent its being occupied by the troops of Louis XI.
