The other fellow, one of the men of the Route, who served which ever
party he must, confirmed what the Englishman had said respecting the
movements of the enemy. Sorley Boy had for weeks past let it be hinted,
that when he came to strike, it would be at the Castle on the Bann on
the one hand, and at Knockfergus, far to the south, on the other.
Therefore, while Turlogh Luinech O'Neill tarried at Toome to watch what
passed in the latter region, Captain Merriman strengthened Coleraine and
the forts on the Bann in order to hold the former. Meanwhile, Sorley
Boy, having thus made the enemy busy elsewhere, was coming down, as I
have said, betwixt the two, at Dunluce. No doubt but the English
suspected some scheme, for they withdrew only parts of their garrisons
along the coast, depending on the natural strength of Dunluce and the
other castles to hold off any attack till succour should arrive. But
since the old fox never showed front till he was ready to spring, no one
knew exactly where to expect Sorley Boy; whereby the enemy was forced to
remain scattered, in little companies, all along the coast, from Larne
to the Bann Mouth. At any rate, said the man, after the signals with
Cantire last night, no one would expect the blow to fall till the
Scottish clansmen were landed, which might be this time to-morrow.

Ludar bade the man remain in their company, and then called me and two
others of his chief men aside.

"'Tis plain," said he, "our chance is now or never. Give the men time
to sup, and then take forward your guns and have at them in front. You
two," said he, addressing the two Scots, "with the main body are to
carry the outworks, and pounding at the enemy's gate, keep him busy to
landward. Humphrey, and I, and twenty more must try the sea front. As
soon as you hear us shout from within, let drive every bolt you have,
and the place is ours."

"But," said I, "you said that on the seaward side the place is
unassailable."

"It is, except to McDonnells. I did not play on these rocks for naught
when a boy. Only pick me out twenty resolute men, and bring them round
secretly to the first break in the cliffs eastward. I shall be there."

'Twas easy to find twenty men ready for the venture. Nay, the hard
thing was to take no more than twenty, for a hundred were eager to come.
No sooner were we started, than the main body, as agreed, leapt from
their hiding-place, and marched rapidly on Dunluce.

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