92 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



followed — and the supporting file, gradually creeping from the weeds and 

 brushwood that favoured their design, struggled upward, but — pausing every 

 few seconds to assure themselves that they were not overseen — could hear the 

 tramp of the sentinel above, and the plash of the loosened fragments of rock, 

 as they rolled down into the loch beneath them. They looked silently at one 

 another, and not without suspicion of their leader ; but their chief was before 

 them : they were too familiar with danger to fear it in any shape ; and, 

 certes, its present shape was iia no respect inviting. The dislodging of a 

 rock, or the loss of a step, would have inevitably led to their discovery or 

 destruction. 



The first portion of the escalade finished, they halted for a few seconds on 

 a small platform, over which the superincumbent mass of rock threw a partial 

 screen, and masked their little battaUon. Here Randolph enjoined them to 

 firmness — reminding them that the success of their enterprise would soon 

 compensate for its hazard. But while he expressed this by signal rather than 

 words, a stone was hurled from the rampart, followed by an exclamation from 

 the sentinel — " So, so ! there you are — I see you well !" A momentary con- 

 sternation ensued, while the rock, bounding over their heads, and thundering 

 down the precipice into the lake, seemed to leave no doubt of their plot being 

 discovered. 



For some time they remained in perfect silence, pondering the consequences, 

 and deprecating the foolhardy project in which they were apparently entrapped. 

 They listened with breathless anxiety for some more audible proof of detection, 

 and were surprised that the sentinels continued their rounds, and all remained 

 silent as before. Reassured by this, and cautiously emerging from their shelter, 

 Franks continued his advance — the band closely following. Unseen, unheard, they 

 reached the buttress of the rampart; and the next instant Franks gave abundant 

 proof of his old acquaintance with its height and capacity. Placing his hands 

 and feet in their accustomed rest — crevices from which the mortar had been 

 detached — he soon rose above the heads of his comrades, fastened the ladder to 

 its hold, and drawing his claymore, sprang lightly upon the bastion. This 

 done, he was instantly followed by Sir Andrew Gray, Earl Randolph, and the 

 others, as fast as they could mount ; but before the full band could muster, 

 the sentinel gave the alarm in good earnest, and the cry of " treason" brought 

 every man to his post. The constable, heading his garrison, made gallant use of 

 its strength, and pressing upon the adventurers, shouted to liis men to hurl 

 them down the precipice. But his men were compelled to disobey orders ; 

 Randolph had no mind to retrace his steps, and with every stroke of his sword 



