the front terrace overhanging the sea. From the noise, Hilda
suspected that this had already partly given way, and she feared that
the assailants, whoever they were, would already have gained an entrance
before she could summon any of the servants to resist them. Besides
Lawrence, it was not likely that there were more than five or six men in
the house. The bell belonging to her room led only to the chambers of
the women, and she feared that when they awoke, they would do little
more for the defence of the castle than scream; nor had she much
confidence in the valour of old David Cheyne, the butler. Still she
herself felt no overwhelming alarm. Throwing some garments round her,
she hurried to the hall, where a bell rope communicated with the
servants' room. She pulled it violently, and then hastened on to call
Lawrence. She had little confidence, however, in the way he might
behave; still, she had no reason to doubt his courage, and knew that if
he comprehended what was required, he was likely to be of as much value
as any other man. He had fire-arms, and so had all the servants, and
she hoped, if there was time for them to collect, to give the assailants
a warm reception. The door, it was evident, had resisted the first
attack made on it, for again there came a succession of thundering
blows, which echoed through the castle, and must have aroused the
soundest sleepers. Hilda took a turn up and down the hall to relieve
her impatience. She felt inclined herself to go to the gate to
ascertain how far it had resisted the attacks made on it, but she
reflected that this would be folly, because, should she be seized by the
enemy, it would make all further resistance useless. Every moment her
impatience increased.

"What! are the men turned cowards?" she exclaimed, when she found that
no one appeared; "are they skulking in bed, afraid to encounter the
unexpected foe? Oh! that I were a man, to be able to fight as brave men
do! I thought better things of Lawrence. If they would but come, we
might yet drive back these marauders. It shall never be said that the
castle of Lunnasting was given up without a desperate struggle."

Again she rang such a peal, that Davie Cheyne must have been aroused,
had he been twice as sound asleep as he had ever been before. It
produced its effect, and with startled looks, his hair on end, with his
night-cap in one hand and his coat in the other, the old butler rushed
into the hall