, followed by the other serving-men, and some farm
labourers who slept in the castle.

"Oh my lady!--oh Miss Hilda! Oh--I beg pardon, Madame Escalante--what
is the matter? What is going to happen?"

"That you, lazy-bones, have been snoring in bed, while the castle is
being attacked by a band of robbers or privateers; and that, unless you
stir yourselves to defend it, you may all be murdered as you deserve.
Quick!--get your arms, and try to defend the place. Where is Mr
Lawrence? Is he as cowardly as the rest of you?"

"No, cousin Hilda, he is not," said Lawrence, who entered at that moment
with a musket in one hand, a sword in the other, and a brace of pistols
in his belt. "I have been to take a look at the besiegers. They are
taking breath to make a fresh attack, and it's my opinion that we take
them on the flank, and if we work our guns well, we shall be able to
shoot them down before one of them can return to their boats."

"Excellent, Lawrence," exclaimed Hilda, pleased with his unexpected
sagacity and promptness. "Place the men as you think best. What could
induce an enemy to attack this place, it is difficult to say, unless
from its apparent strength they suppose it contains large stores of
plate and jewels. However, I trust to your courage and conduct to
disappoint them."

While Hilda was speaking, some of the men were loading their firelocks;
others found that they had forgot their ammunition, and ran back to get
it; and Davie Cheyne was putting on his coat and arranging his garments
in a seemly manner, and stuffing a night-cap into his pouch, he armed
himself with a huge blunderbuss, which, with its ammunition pouches,
hung over the mantelpiece.

"Give me a musket!" cried Hilda. "Where there are not enough men, women
must fight. I would sooner lose my life than allow these marauders to
enter the castle."

Hilda was speaking while Davie Cheyne was getting down the fire-arm and
handing it to her. Not another moment was then lost, and the party, led
by Lawrence, were hastening to the eastern tower which commanded the
gate, when several of the women rushed with loud shrieks into the hall,
exclaiming that the robbers were breaking into the castle, and that they
were all going to be murdered.

"Silence, wenches!" cried Hilda, indignantly. "When I show signs of
fear it is time for you to be afraid. Those who have the nerve to load
the guns come with me; the rest go and remain with Bertha Eswick