e men here, counting the laird. Some must stay."

But the young laird, who had noticed the same thing, cried out promptly
to the messenger--

"Tell your general he shall have his thirty men before dawn," and with
that the soldier withdrew.

The joy of the Singletons now gave place to something like panic, as
they comprehended what the rash pledge of their young chief really
meant. It meant that thirty of them must go, and one must stay; and
what could one man do to defend a castle like Singleton Towers? The
elder soldiers were specially concerned.

"Call him back, Singleton," said Geordie. "You cannot leave this place
defenceless! Think of the peril! Ten men must stay, at the least."

"Who says `must' to me?" cried the young chief, impatiently. "Are the
Singletons to be word-breakers as well as highwaymen? Thirty men shall
go. Have we not promised?"

"But who will stay?" asked some one.

"Ah, that's it," cried another. "Who is to stay?"

Silence ensued on the question, and then--

"_I_ will stay," quietly replied Singleton.

"You! The laird!" shouted every one, in amazement. "That can never
be!"

"Why not?" inquired the youth. "Who is chief here, you or I?"

"But who is to lead us in battle?"

"Ah," said Singleton, "that is my duty, I know, but it is equally my
duty to stay here!"

"But it is certain peril, and you could do no good. Let one of us stay.
Let me stay with you," said Geordie.

"No, brave Geordie, you must go. It must never be said the Singletons
broke their word, even to save their castle. Take the thirty men to
Glencairn. If he permits ten to return, well and good. You will find
me here."

"But your place is at our head," said the men.

"And there I will be to-morrow. To-night I watch here; ay, and on the
east terrace with Sir David, Tam," he added, with a smile. "But come;
to horse there! You lose time. Bring out the guns! On with your
belts, men! Be brisk now! Take every man some bread and meat from the
table!"

And with these words the martial fire of the father blazed out in the
son, so that his men wondered more than ever how they could have
suspected him of faint-heartedness.

"Are you all equipped and mounted? Lower the drawbridge there! Open
the gate! Forward, men! and `Singleton for the king!'"

And waving his hand he bade them march forth, and watched them slowly
defile across the drawbridge and turn their horses' heads eastward.

The last m