sily the outer courtyard across the moat,
driving the slender garrison back, with only time to lower the gate and
shut themselves within before the assault began. But, though they
thundered with shot and rock, all was of no avail. The guns of the
besieged swept the narrow bridge on either side, and scarce a man who
ventured across it returned alive.

Now, all was suddenly changed. Ludar, with a wild shout, fell on the
keepers of the gate within and drove them from their post. So sudden
was his onslaught, that none had time to ask whence he came or how many
followed him. Only a handful of soldiers withstood us. Among these was
the gay English fellow whom we had let go an hour or so back; and who
now, true to his word, rushed sword in hand at Ludar. I wondered to see
what Ludar would do, for kill the fellow I knew he would not. He met
the Englishman's sword with a tremendous blow from his own sheathed
weapon, which shivered it. Then with his fist he felled him to the
ground, and, thus stunned, lifted him and laid him high on a parapet of
the wall till he should come to.

Ere this was done, I and the rest of our men were at it, hand to hand
with the few fighting men of the garrison that remained. It did not
take long, for there were but half-a-dozen of them, and valiantly as
they fought, we were too many and strong for them. One by one they fell
or yielded, all except one stout man, the constable of the place, Peter
Gary by name, who fought as long as he could stand, and then, before our
eyes, flung first his sword, then himself, headlong from the cliff.

That ended the matter. Next moment, the English flag--alas! that I
should say it--tumbled from the battlements; and with shouts of "_Ludar!
Froach Eilan_!" the portcullis swung open, and Dunluce belonged once
more to the McDonnells.

Leaving us to guard the tower where most of the enemy had shut
themselves, Ludar stalked off to a remote corner of the castle; whence
in a short time he returned and called me.

"Humphrey," said he, "the maiden is safe, thank God. Go to her and see
what she and the old nurse may need. I have other work to do. Friend,"
added he, "is this all a dream? Is this indeed the castle of my
fathers? and when Sorley Boy comes, shall it be I who will give it into
his hands?"

"You and no other," said I, "for the place is yours."

"Alas!" he said, "at what cost! When I heard my brave men fall from the
cliff like sheep, Humphrey, I