The white flag, it will be remembered, was not in sign of surrender, but in sign that the fort had been abandoned; Captain Troubridge having refused to make any kind of terms beyond the announcement that for such a space of time he should not be firing in that direction; and the officer having hinted plainly that he should not be able to enforce the withdrawal of certain of his men. In a very short space these men were all slain or had laid down their arms; and then the sailors commenced battering in the doors with a light brass gun which they took off its carriage and slung in cords--an expedient which had fortunately not occurred to the rebels, who, disarmed and under guard, watched the operations sullenly. No sooner had they delivered a batter or two, and a third would have done the business, than they heard an English voice from within--a gruff voice, which called-- "Hi there! An English storming party?" "Yes," shouted a dozen voices. "Heads, then! the key is coming out of the window;" and out came a great rusty key above a foot long, which looked as if it had been made for centuries; but the lock was too battered for the key to turn, and the cry went back-- "Stand clear while we stove the door in!" But the Captain stopped them, and called out-- "You there, inside, is there room to stand clear?" "Aye, aye," said the gruff voice; and they thought it must be a sailor, though they had no note of any captured ones. "Are you ready?" rang out the Captain's voice. "Aye, aye." "All together!" The gun swung well back, and coming against the door like a Roman battering-ram, carried away the staple of the lock. "Now then, my man, come out," said the Captain; but his face suddenly changed in blank astonishment, and he drew himself up and saluted, as stump, stump, on the stone flags came into view His Majesty's Admiral the Lord Eastry; and even blanker was his astonishment when the old Lord was followed by Katherine. Her beautiful face was certainly anxious, but her healthy cheeks were not blanched, and fear had not robbed her of the uprightness of her carriage. To her father death was a commonplace. He had faced it times countless, when he had all his life before him; and now it was near its end, and he had his dearest possession to defend. He had, I noticed, a sword, and a pistol of foreign make. Captain Troubridge, having sent round search parties and satisfied himself that there were no ambuscades, was cheerily making his excuses for not recognising his lordship, when the old Admiral called out-- "God bless my soul, there's Will! Come here, my boy." Will had been very much "on duty," for he was crushed with shamefacedness before Katherine. He looked for leave to the Captain, who with one of his great laughs said that the Admiral was the senior officer present.