The colonel gave the word in a low tone, and in perfect silence handgrips were exchanged, and the little party filed out through the postern. Directly they had vanished through the darkness, the rest of the garrison manned the walls, where, with matches ready to light, we waited in deadly silence the result of the hazardous enterprise. We relied upon the guns being in the same position they had occupied during the day. Although well in the rear of the rebel lines, they commanded a clear front, so that, had the enemy neglected to post sentinels in the intervening gap, our men would doubtless be able to reach the object of their endeavours without hindrance. Half an hour elapsed without any signs of the movements of our friends, though several of the watchers declared they heard the blows of the hammers as the spikes were driven in--a manifest impossibility, owing to the distance between the castle and the guns. Suddenly the darkness was pierced by a bright flash, followed by a report of a musket. Other flashes came in quick succession, and the next instant the whole of the rebel lines became a ring of spitting fire. The sortie had been discovered, and the besiegers in the trenches, not knowing the cause of the alarm, had expected a sudden attack, and in a panic had opened fire on all sides. For over a quarter of an hour the fusillade continued, till we could hear the trumpets sounding and the voices of the rebel officers calling to their men to desist then all became quiet. Although the postern was ready to be opened at the first signs of their return, none of our gallant friends reappeared, so with sorrowful hearts we realised that seven good men were lost to our little garrison. Even had Firestone succeeded in spiking the guns, our position was indeed desperate. Scarce a mere handful of worn men remained to hold the shattered walls; and, at any moment, the rebels were likely to throw all their foot into the breach to attempt to carry the castle by escalade. Would we see the setting of the morrow's sun? None could say. "Poor old Firestone," said Granville. "I fear we shall never see him again. He ought never to have gone." "His leg was against him; he never had a fair chance," I replied. "Then why did we allow him to go?" "Ah, why?" I echoed bitterly. Brave in conflict, crafty and wary in danger, and possessed of iron nerve, Firestone was undoubtedly a severe loss to us. Strangely enough, when he proposed to lead the forlorn hope, none of us gave a thought to his one physical defect. On horseback he was the equal of any man, but when on foot the circumstances were totally different, and we blamed ourselves for letting him go. For us sleep was out of the question; and, impatiently pacing the ruined terrace, we awaited the dawn. At length the pale grey sky began to brighten in the east. A thick, rolling mist filled the valley, while above the banks of vapour the dark, tree-clad downs assumed distorted and indistinct shapes.