_ 214 _ His Majesty's master-builder in India, might find a remedy. He had been responsible for the building of all the fortresses and was very competent and ingenious so that the captain asked him if there was a way of safely obtaining water. Master Tomas then devised a tunnel which would lead from the fortress to the well. Excavations began at once, and as soon as a section of it was opened it was supported by stone arches. In this way the tunnel reached the well and a way was found to get water from it. This tunnel was high and wide enough to enable two men on horseback to cross it, and when it was completed, our men celebrated joyfully and praised God as well as Master Tomas for his clever invention. From that time on our men had plenty of water and were free from the dangers of having to go out to fetch it. The captain now feared that the enemy might be enraged at this since they could no longer kill our soldiers, and that they might try to poison the water for they would soon realize that we were getting it from inside. He therefore covered the well with a platform, below ground-level as they were working from the subterranean tunnel. This was made of wood from palm- trees. In this way the enemy were unable to throw anything into the water.
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