It looked as if the imprisoned freebooter was likely to pay his "lodging mail" in a very unpleasant fashion. The English government seemed determined to detain him until such times as they could conveniently put a period to his career by hanging him on Haribee hill. But Buccleuch, while anxious to effect his purpose, if possible by constitutional means, was determined that Kinmont should be rescued, whatever might be the method he was under the necessity of adopting. To accomplish his purpose he was prepared to "set the castle in a low, and sloken it with English blood." This threat was regarded as a mere piece of bravado. The castle was strongly garrisoned and well fortified. It was in the centre of a populous and hostile city, and under the command of Scrope, who was regarded as one of the bravest soldiers in England. The Bold Buccleuch, however, was not easily daunted. He had a strong arm and a brave heart, and he knew that he could summon to his aid a small band of followers as brave and resolute as himself. On a dark tempestuous night, two hundred of his bravest followers met him at the tower of Morton, a fortalice in the Debatable land, on the water of Sark, some ten miles or so from Carlisle. Their plans had been carefully considered and determined upon a day or two before, when they had met at a horse race near Langholm. The Armstrongs, of course, were ready to adventure their lives in such a laudable undertaking, and the Graemes, to whom Will of Kinmont was related by marriage, were also forward with promises of assistance. They were all well mounted-- With spur on heel, and splent on spauld, And gleuves of green, and feathers blue-- and carried with them scaling ladders and crowbars, hand-picks and axes, prepared to take the castle by storm. The rain had been falling heavily, and the Esk and the Eden were in roaring flood, but boldly plunging through their turbid waters they soon came within sight of the "Corbie's Nest" which they had come to "herry," and-- The first o' men that we met wi', Whae sould it be but fause Sakelde? "Where be ye gaun, ye hunters keen?" Quo' fause Sakelde; "Come tell to me?" "We go to hunt an English stag, Has trespass'd on the Scots countrie." "Where be ye gaun, ye marshall men?" Quo' fause Sakelde; "Come tell me true!" "We go to catch a rank reiver, Has broken faith wi' the bauld Buccleuch." But the troublesome questions of the "fause Sakelde" were speedily cut short by the lance of Dickie of Dryhope, who led the band-- Then nevir a word had Dickie to say, Sae he thrust the lance through his fause bodie. The way was now clear for the advance upon the castle. Everything seemed favourable to the success of their hazardous undertaking. The heavens were black as pitch, the thunder rolled loud and long, and the rain descended in torrents-- "But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet, When we came beneath the castle wa'."