loading, and
it's too dark to hit."

At that moment, from some distance along the rampart to the right, came
flash after flash, and the reports of ten or a dozen muskets, followed
by the rush of feet; and Ben's voice said, in a low stern tone--

"Steady, steady! No hurry. Reload!"

There was the rustling and rattling of bandoleer and ramrod, and the
twinkling of sparks of light, as the reloading went on; while from the
angry orders being given, some distance back in the darkness, it was
evident that the volley had sent the enemy off in a scare, which was
made worse by the plunging, snorting, and galloping of horses which had
evidently dashed off, escaping from the men who held their reins.

"How many are you above there?" cried Roy.

"Three, sir."

"Only two fired."

"No. My piece wouldn't go."

"Are you reloaded?"

"Yes, sir."

"Be ready."

"They're coming on again, sir. He's rallied 'em," growled Ben; "but we
shall be ready for 'em when they come."

Meanwhile, the sound of splashing and swimming came up from the moat,
accompanied by a good many spluttering and choking noises, and now heads
were dimly made out approaching the bank of the moat below.

"How many are there of you across?" said Roy.

"Eight of us, sir," came up in a panting voice; "we're going back for
the other two."

"Who are--how many?"

"Four on us, sir," said one man; "they're hiding in the reeds. Can't
swim."

"Can you bring them across?"

"Yes, sir. We did bring three as couldn't take a stroke, and they're
down here half drowned."

"That's a loy," said a gruff voice; "I aren't: on'y full o' water."

The men lowered themselves into the moat again, and began to swim back,
but just as they were nearly across, there came the thudding sound of
horses passing along at a trot, and a rush of men towards the edge of
the moat.

"Fire!" shouted Roy; and over the swimmers' heads a ragged volley tore,
the flashes cutting the darkness, and once more, in spite of angry
curses and yelled-out orders, horse and man were driven to the
right-about, all save about a dozen, who came right on to the edge of
the moat.

"Surrender!" roared a voice, as there was a quick splashing among the
reeds below the bank. Then a shot was fired from a pistol, followed by
another; but the men summoned to surrender had done so to their
comrades, who whispered to them to trust themselves to their strong
arms, two of the swimmers taking a non-swimmer