CHAPTER XXIV.
COLINA RELENTS.
As Ambrose and Tole started in the gate they were hailed from the dark doorway under the porch. "Stand, or I fire!" It was the voice of Macfarlane.
"It is Ambrose Doane and Tole Grampierre," cried Ambrose.
They heard an exclamation of astonishment from the door.
"What do you want?" demanded the voice.
"To help you defend yourselves."
From the sounds that reached him, Ambrose gathered that the door was open and that Macfarlane stood within the hall. From farther back Colina's voice rang out:
"How dare you! Do you expect us to believe you? Go back to your friends!"
"They are not my men," Ambrose answered doggedly.