between them, and
bringing him across in safety to the rest, crouching upon the narrow
strip of bank beneath the walls.

Another volley sent the attacking party back into the darkness, and a
brief colloquy took place.

"All safe?" cried Roy.

"Yes, sir, and as wet as wet," came up in answer.

"Fall in, then, and quick march for the sally-port," cried Roy; and the
men tramped round by the north-west tower, along beneath the western
rampart, turned the southern corner, and were admitted by the little
sally-port beside the portcullis, where, bedraggled as they were, they
received a tremendous hand-shaking and a roar of cheers.

In half an hour the missing men were in dry clothes, ready to recount
their adventures. The enemy had retired to a distance to continue their
night patrol of the place; while the men upon the ramparts were reduced
to the regular watch, and those off duty were being addressed by Ben,
who sarcastically lectured them upon what he called their modesty.

"When the captain gives the order to fire," he said, "you're all to pull
trigger together, and every man not to let his comrade fire first for
good manners."

But here Roy interposed.

"No more to-night, sergeant," he said, firmly. "We are all fresh to our
work. But I thank you all for the brave and manly way in which you have
shown what you can do. This has been a grand night's work: your ten
comrades safely brought in, and the enemy sent to the right-about. The
sergeant has been finding fault, but he is as proud of you all as I am.
Come, Martlet, what do you say?"

"Might ha' done better, captain," replied the old fellow, gruffly. "But
it warn't so bad. Wait a few days, though, and we'll show you something
better than that.--What do you say, lads?"

The answer was a hearty cheer, which was repeated, and was still echoing
through the place, when Roy, thrilling still with the excitement of the
past hour, made his way towards his mother's room to fully set her mind
at rest with his last good news.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

BUT ALL'S WELL.

Lady Royland was surrounded by the trembling women of the household,
who, scared by the firing, had sought her to find comfort and relief.

"What! the ten men safely brought in!" she cried, as her son hastened to
tell his tidings. "And no one hurt?"

"No one on our side, mother," said Roy, meaningly; "I cannot answer for
those across the moat."

"Our ten poor fellows here in safety," cried L