"No; I think a few firelock shots might do it to-night, sir; and that wouldn't be so wasteful. Do our boys good too. They haven't fired their pieces yet in earnest." Roy's heart began to beat a little faster, for this was exciting; and silently passing on with his lieutenant, post after post was visited, the men challenging, receiving the word, and then a sharp warning to be on the alert; while, after this, Ben and Roy passed on to listen again and again. "Yes, sir," whispered the former; "there's no mistake they're a good hundred yards closer in. I almost fancied I could see one of 'em moving against that lighter bit of sky." "I can, Ben," whispered Roy. "There, just to the left of where the ruins must lie--between it and the tower we just passed. Stay, though; why didn't we go up and see how they're getting on with clearing Master Pawson's chamber? There is a light up there." "'Cause we've got something more serious on the way, sir." "Halt! stand, or I fire!" came from the top of the north-west tower, and Roy was about to call out-- "Don't, you idiot; we gave you the word just now," when a voice from beyond the moat uttered a low "Whist!" "Stand, or I fire!" "If you do, Dick Davis, I'll punch your head, as sure as you stand there," came from across the moat. "Can't you see we're friends?" "Give the word." "Stop! Who's there?" cried Roy. "That you, sir? Please speak to Dick Davis, or he'll be shooting somebody with that gun of hisn." "Is that Brian Wiggins?" "Yes, sir, and the rest on us, sir. But pst! The enemy's close behind." "Quick! round to the bridge!" "No, sir; there's a whole lot of 'em come close in. They nearly had us an hour ago, and we've had a fine job to creep through all in a line one arter t'other." "Hist! cease talking," whispered Roy, "or you'll be heard." The warning came too late, for an order delivered in a low tone a short distance away was followed by a tramping as if a line of horses was approaching cautiously. "How many of you can swim? Now, as many as can, come across." But no one stirred, and the trampling came on. "Do you hear?" said Roy, in an angry whisper; "are you afraid?" "Fear'd to leave our comrades as can't swim, sir," said the man who had first spoken. "What's to be done," exclaimed Roy, excitedly. But there was no response, for he was standing there upon the rampart alone. The boy was in an agony of doubt and dread, for the right thing to do in such an emergency would not come to his inexperienced brain. He divined that Ben had gone for assistance, but he felt that before he could be back, the brave fellows who were trying to come to their aid would be surrounded by the enemy and taken prisoners. To add to his horror and excitement, he plainly heard from the enemy's line the word given to dismount. This was followed by the jingle of accoutrements as the men sprang from their horses, and a loud bang-- evidently of a steel headpiece falling to the ground.