When the fire which Robert Harburgh had lighted burned up, we that were marksmen lost no chances at any who showed so much as an arm or a leg. And many of those murderous rascals whom we did not kill outright (not having a fair chance at them from their lying in shelter and other causes), were at least winged and sore damaged, so that we judged that there would be some roods of lint bandage required about Drummurchie and Auchendrayne on the morrow. Outside we heard a great and growing turmoil and the sound of many voices crying ’To the death with the murderers! Break down the doors!’ It was the noise of the people who had risen in the night and were coming to help us. For in a moment the gate of the yard was broken down, and a rout of men in steel caps and hastily-donned armour came pouring in. And it had been comical to watch the array, if our urgent business had allowed. For some had put on a breastplate over their night gear; some fought like Highlandmen in their sark-tails, which, on the night of the New Year, must have been breezy wear; while others again had snatched a hackbutt and had forgotten the powder, so that now they carried the weapon like a club by the barrel. Before these angry levies our cruel invaders vanished like smoke, as though they had never been, clambering over walls and scurrying through entries. But it is reported that several of them were sore hurt in thus escaping—indeed, here and there throughout the town were no fewer than five dead and six wounded, chiefly in the two gardens where I had been compelled to discharge my pistols. Robert Harburgh stepped out of the summer-house before them all, stretching his limbs. ’’Tis a cramped, ungodly place, friends,’ he said. ’After all, it is better to fight in the open and risk it!’ ’Where is the Laird of Culzean?’ cried some that knew him not. ’If ye cannot show us the laird, ye shall die forthwith!’ ’Nay,’ replied Harburgh, ’concerning that I ken not. ’Tis not in my province, being general information. My parish is fighting, not the answering of questions. Come hither, Launce, and tell them of thy master!’ Whereat I came forth and told them of the cruel plot and the attack upon Sir Thomas at Nisbett’s house. But they would not be satisfied till they had gone there and found him. Nothing would do but that he should show himself unhurt and speak a word to them at the window. Which, being of short-grained temper and with a monstrous headache, he was most loath to do. But Robert Harburgh, who had experience of suchlike, being before his marriage a great man of his cups, poured water upon his head, and, having dried it by rubbing, he brought him to the window, where he spoke to the people as his kindly friends and neighbours, and thanked them for their affection. ’Nay,’ cried one, ’thank your own young squire, who has to-night ta’en your life upon him.’