t from above.

"At length they could get no farther, and Morgan, turning his head,
said, `It's a false scent, after all; the cave leads nowhere!'

"But at that moment over their heads they heard a sound of feet, and
presently of voices. At first they could distinguish nothing, but after
a while Morgan's ears caught some words.

"`Pray, master, get you to bed for this one night. The scoundrels can
do nothing till the morning.'

"`I need no rest, I tell you,' said another voice, sternly. `How stands
the provender, Peter?'

"`It will last three days, master; and the shot will hold out for two.
The water, alas! is already exhausted.'

"`Ah! And my child--how is she?'

"`In good heart, master; she was sleeping like a child as I passed her
room just now.'

"Morgan could forbear no longer. He turned quickly to his men and said,
in a loud voice, which might be heard by the unseen watchers overhead,
`My torch has gone out. Crawl back, one of you, to the rest and bring
another, for if the castle is to be fired to-night--'

"There was a startled movement above, which told him his object had been
gained. The voices grew silent, and the footsteps moved suddenly. For
a moment his two companions did not comprehend what had happened. But
it flashed on them soon enough, and they were ready for the emergency.

"One of the two suddenly lit a small ball of hemp saturated in some
inflammable substance, which he had carried with him, and, fixing it on
to the point of his sword, held it up to the boards above, at the same
time that the other drew his pistol and pointed it at Morgan's head.

"Not a word was said, and not one of the three stirred, until a sharp
crackling of the wood above told its own tale. The soldier still held
up his brand till the place was well alight. Then withdrawing it, and
beckoning to his companion, he began to retreat towards the mouth of the
cave, saying as he did so, with a mocking laugh--

"`Farewell, master traitor, I doubt not your business keeps you where
you are. We shall miss your company.'

"Morgan did not hear them. He sprang desperately towards the now
blazing boards. But it was too late to stay the fire, and the heat and
falling embers drove him back.

"Still he could not go, but stayed there half suffocated, determined at
least not to desert his post while a glimmer of hope remained.

"In a few moments there was a crash and a shower of sparks at his feet.
The trap-door had