hose within; they
prepared accordingly to repel the attack whenever it might be made.

It appeared to the leader of the rebels that by assaulting the south
side of the castle they were most likely to prove successful. Thither
accordingly he led the main body of his men, while another party
continued to assail the front gate, and the remainder, concealed among
the walls and rough ground outside the castle, kept up a hot fire on the
battlements. At length the assailants, jumping down into the ditch,
placed their ladders against the walls. Up they began to climb with
loud shouts and imprecations on the heads of its defenders.

Unless this last attack should be met by a very determined resistance,
there appeared every probability of their succeeding, for could they
once gain a lodgment on the walls, they might easily drive the small
number of opponents who were likely to be within before them. A
determined band at last led the way, and reached the summit of the
walls. They were there met, however, by a party of the defenders of the
castle, led by the Earl himself. Unaccustomed to the use of swords, the
assailants were ill-able to defend themselves, as they attempted to step
upon the parapet, while the fire which their friends kept up from the
opposite side of the bank, killed several of them, though the bullets
failed to strike the defenders; they were therefore quickly hurled down
again, and the leading men, falling, struck the others who were
attempting to ascend, when all were precipitated into the ditch
together, the ladders being dislodged, and thrown down upon the wounded
and struggling mass. They had, however, too nearly succeeded to abandon
their project. They retreated with their ladders, which were soon
repaired, when with others in the meantime constructed, a still larger
force attempted to scale the walls.

Had we followed the widow and her son, Dermot would have been heard
expressing his satisfaction at seeing the white sails of the frigate,
which had so lately quitted the harbour, once more approaching the
shore, aided by a strong breeze from the north, which still continued to
blow. The insurgents were fortunately too much occupied in their attack
on the castle to notice her; she was, however, seen by its defenders,
and this greatly encouraged them in their resistance. Again the rebels
began to climb up their ladders,--this time fully believing they were
sure of success. Already a large number we