Farewell." And he and the soldiers marched on without another word, leaving Ludar and me looking after them, and marvelling if all this were what it seemed or some horrid vision.
Ludar recovered himself sooner than I.
"Come," said he; "why stand you here, Humphrey, when all the world, except Dunluce, is before us?
Let us back to the city." I knew why he wished to go back.

He was thinking not of Sorley Boy or Dunluce, but of that cruel trophy above the city gate.

And in my heart I pitied the keepers, should they chance to withstand him in his purpose.
'Twas dark when we crossed the bridge and found ourselves once more within the walls.

The streets were empty, for the night was bleak, and the troops had long since been called into their quarters.

Only a few sentinels stood about the gate, who, to keep away the cold and cheer their stomachs, huddled together in a sheltered nook and discussed the news of the day over ale and sack.