To speak to the unarmed men from the farm was to obtain an answer and proclaim their whereabouts to the enemy; so Roy was baffled there; and, at his wit's end, he was about to order them to make their way to the bridge, when the man on the tower above challenged again: "Stand, or I fire!" "Draw swords! Forward, quick!" came from out of the darkness. The sharp rattle and noise told that the party must be large, and like a call just then a horse uttered a tremendous neigh. Involuntarily, at the first order from beyond the moat, Roy had half drawn his own sword, but thrust it angrily back as he realised his impotence, and reached forward to try and make out what was going on below him; for there was a loud splashing noise in the water as if the men were lowering themselves into the moat, the reeds and rushes crackled and whispered, and there was a panting sound and a low ejaculation or two. "Now, every one his man," said some one, sharply. _Bang, bang_! and a couple of flashes of light from the top of the tower just above Roy's head; and as the splashing went on, there was a loud trampling of feet. "On with you!" roared the same voice. "They'll be an hour loading, and it's too dark to hit." At that moment, from some distance along the rampart to the right, came flash after flash, and the reports of ten or a dozen muskets, followed by the rush of feet; and Ben's voice said, in a low stern tone-- "Steady, steady! No hurry. Reload!" There was the rustling and rattling of bandoleer and ramrod, and the twinkling of sparks of light, as the reloading went on; while from the angry orders being given, some distance back in the darkness, it was evident that the volley had sent the enemy off in a scare, which was made worse by the plunging, snorting, and galloping of horses which had evidently dashed off, escaping from the men who held their reins. "How many are you above there?" cried Roy. "Three, sir." "Only two fired." "No. My piece wouldn't go." "Are you reloaded?" "Yes, sir." "Be ready." "They're coming on again, sir. He's rallied 'em," growled Ben; "but we shall be ready for 'em when they come." Meanwhile, the sound of splashing and swimming came up from the moat, accompanied by a good many spluttering and choking noises, and now heads were dimly made out approaching the bank of the moat below. "How many are there of you across?" said Roy. "Eight of us, sir," came up in a panting voice; "we're going back for the other two." "Who are--how many?" "Four on us, sir," said one man; "they're hiding in the reeds. Can't swim." "Can you bring them across?" "Yes, sir. We did bring three as couldn't take a stroke, and they're down here half drowned." "That's a loy," said a gruff voice; "I aren't: on'y full o' water."