The former had a blood-stained scarf bound round his head, while Firestone's steel cap bore a dent that was a silent testimony to his valour. It was nearly dark, but there was sufficient light to see that on the ground were several motionless objects that but a few short hours before had been the living defenders of my home. The assault had failed, but the solitary gun still kept up a steady fire. "How goes the day?" I asked feebly, for my head was whirling, and my throat parched with thirst. "We hurled them back," replied Ralph. "Chaloner's dead we found his body in the breach. At the last moment, when we thought everything was lost, one of the rebels raised a cry that the breach was mined, and they gave back in confusion." "And how have we fared?" "Badly. Nine good men killed, and five sorely wounded. There are not ten men left whole. I fear we cannot withstand another onslaught." "Then we must make use of the secret passage!" I exclaimed, starting painfully to my feet. "None can say that we have not borne ourselves with honour." Beyond being knocked senseless by the musketeers weapon I was unhurt, and after partaking of food and drink, I felt stronger, though weak in the limbs. For some unexpected reason the rebels did not offer to renew the attack, and in consequence we were able to enjoy a good night's sleep. Early the following day we had the mournful task of burying the bodies of those who had fallen in the defence of the castle. Especially mournful 'twas as far as I was concerned, since I had known every one of them, save one, from my earliest days. The exception was Sergeant Lawson, who, after slaying four men with his own hand, was shot down at close range by a musketeer. This done, we inspected the breach, where the bodies of the slain rebels lay thick. As I looked at Chaloner's corpse, stiff and cold, with the dishonourable wound in the back of his neck plainly visible--for in falling his helmet had come off--I could not help remembering my father's injunction never to let the renegade's footsteps cross our threshold. I had indeed carried out my sire's instructions, for my enemy had never planted his feet within our walls, though 'twas a near thing. While at breakfast--the last meal I was fated to partake of within those walls--I questioned the colonel concerning the spiking of the guns.