The raid they made on the great gate was something terrific, and Singleton's heart trembled within him as he heard it creak before their united weight.

But he worked away steadily at his post, always taking care not to expose himself, yet never wasting a shot with a bad aim.
The enemy very soon quitted the gate, and took to the more formidable work of attempting to scale the walls.

And here Singleton's power was tried to the utmost.

For at one part the ground sloped a considerable distance up one of the buttresses, which made the ascent from below comparatively easy, and if only the Macfies had been suitably equipped for an assault, they could not have failed to carry the place with ease.
But happily for Singleton, they had come very ill prepared, evidently expecting to walk into a defenceless stronghold without a blow--and now they were not only disappointed but disconcerted.
Yet there was no keeping them down eventually.

In vain Singleton plied his weapon with deadly effect; in vain he dislodged and hurled down upon them one of the massive coping stones of the east terrace.