“But who is to lead us in battle?”
“Ah,” said Singleton, “that is my duty, I know, but it is equally my duty to stay here!”
“But it is certain peril, and you could do no good. Let one of us stay. Let me stay with you,” said Geordie.
“No, brave Geordie, you must go. It must never be said the Singletons broke their word, even to save their castle. Take the thirty men to Glencairn. If he permits ten to return, well and good. You will find me here.”
“But your place is at our head,” said the men.
“And there I will be to-morrow. To-night I watch here; ay, and on the east terrace with Sir David, Tam,” he added, with a smile. “But come; to horse there! You lose time. Bring out the guns! On with your belts, men! Be brisk now! Take every man some bread and meat from the table!”
And with these words the martial fire of the father blazed out in the son, so that his men wondered more than ever how they could have suspected him of faint-heartedness.
“Are you all equipped and mounted? Lower the drawbridge there! Open the gate! Forward, men! and ‘Singleton for the king!’”
And waving his hand he bade them march forth, and watched them slowly defile across the drawbridge and turn their horses’ heads eastward.
The last man to cross was Tam.