as his own. Pooh! what if it was? He was not
going to be afraid of all the ghosts in Scotland! and he laughed out
loud by way of assuring himself of his nerve. But he had hardly done
so, when just above him sounded another laugh, mocking his own, and as
he stepped suddenly forward, the footsteps began again as clear as ever.

This was more than Singleton had bargained for; and he sat down on the
end of the gun in bewilderment and alarm. Had any one been there to see
his face it would have appeared a good deal paler than was its wont; and
it was certainly something more than the cold that made him shiver. He
sat perfectly still and listened. There was not a sound. He strained
his eyes on every hand. Nothing was visible through the darkness but
the silent terrace on which he watched. What could it be? As he sat
and wondered, the pike which had been resting carelessly across his knee
slipped and fell on to the stone pavement with a sudden clank, which was
instantly repeated overhead, just as the laugh and the footsteps had
been.

Of course it flashed upon Singleton then--an echo! nothing but a simple
echo among the nooks and crannies of the castle; and at a simple echo
his cheek had turned pale and his heart had stood still, and his hands
had actually trembled! He scorned himself bitterly for his cowardice;
and once more, relieved in mind and humbled in spirit, set out on his
night watch, determined this time that nothing, not even a score of
ghosts, should terrify him.

And now the night began to wear on. By this time the men must be very
near their rendezvous, for it was an hour past midnight, and the moon
was getting down towards the west. He wondered what other clans would
muster round the royal standard, and how soon the king's forces would be
likely to meet the enemy. This time to-morrow he would be with his men;
that is, provided the general permitted ten of them to return and
relieve guard here. Supposing no one came!

At that moment Jupiter gave a very low growl, which made his master stop
short in his march and listen with all his ears. For a long time not a
sound was audible, and then he fancied he could just detect the tramp of
a horse or horses in the far far distance. But that seemed to die away,
and again all was utterly silent.

But once more, just as he was starting again on his walk, Jupiter
growled, and this time rose to his feet and came to his master's side.
Yes, it was the sound