"Ay, ay!--Madge likes to turn the penny as weel as ither folk. The English will hae guid luck if ony o' them get a bargain oot o' her baskets." She, therefore, went to the castle, bearing provisions with the rest of the peasantry; but, under pretence of disposing of her goods to the best advantage, she went through and around the castle, and quitted it not until she had ascertained where were its strongest, where its weakest points of defence, and in what manner it was guarded. When, therefore, Florence Wilson again visited her dwelling, she addressed him, saying-- "Noo, I hae seen oor enemies i' the heart o' their strength; an' I hae a word to say to ye that will try yer courage, and the courage o' the hunders o' guid men an' true that ye hae spoken o' as only bidin' their time to strike. Noo, is it yer opinion that, between Dunglass an' Eyemouth, ye could gather a hundred men willing an' ready to draw the sword for Scotland's right, an' to drive the invaders frae Fast Castle, if a feasible plan were laid before them?" "I hae nae doot o't," replied he. "Doots winna do," said she; "will ye try it?" "Yes," said he. "Florence, ye _shall_ be my son," added she, taking his hand--"I see there is spirit in ye yet." "Mother," said Janet earnestly, "what dangerous errand is this ye wad set him upon?--what do ye think it could matter to me wha was governor o' Fast Castle, if Florence should meet his death in the attempt?" "Wheesht! ye silly lassie, ye," replied her mother; "had I no borne ye, I wad hae said that ye hadna a drap o' my bluid i' yer veins. What is't that ye fear? If they'll abide by my counsel, though it may try their courage, oor purpose shall be accomplished wi' but little scaith." "Neither fret nor fear, dear," said Florence, addressing Janet; "I hae a hand to defend my head, an' a guid sword to guard baith." Then turning to her mother, he added--"An' what may be yer plan, that I may communicate it to them that I ken to be zealous in oor country's cause?" "Were I to tell ye noo," said she, "that ye might communicate it to them, before we were ready to put it into execution, the story wad spread frae the Tweed to John o' Groat's, and frae St. Abb's to the Solway, and our designs be prevented. Na, lad, my scheme maun be laid before a' the true men that can be gathered together at the same moment, an' within a few hours o' its being put in execution. Do ye ken the dark copse aboon Houndwood, where there is a narrow and crooked opening through the tangled trees, but leading to a bit o' bonny green sward, where a thousand men might encamp unobserved?" "I do," answered Florence. "And think ye that ye could assemble the hundred men ye speak o' there, on this night fortnight?" "I will try," replied he. "Try, then," added she, "and I will meet ye there before the new moon sink behind the Lammermoors."