Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-15
The Nightwatch ON Singleton Tower|

the form of ditch twelve yards wide round
this side also; but it was narrow protection
at the best The drawbridge which spanned
it was, as we have already seem drawn up;
and the great iron gate connecting with the
outside world, carefully barred and bolted.
STILL as Singleton looked down, he telt CON
cerned TO think how easily a few bold men
could swim the moat and assault the place.
But he was in for it now
AS auld Geordie had said, the guns of the
castle were all loaded and ready Tor action;
and Singleton was relieved to see that one
of these was mounted on the tuTret over the
great gate; and further discovery relieved
him still more and that was that the woods
on this side were SO dense that, except along
the narrow clearing through the trees, it
would hardly be possible for any number OF
troops, especially if they brought artillery, to
approach.
He therefore took advantage of the moon
light to point the gun carefully so as exactly
to cover the entrance to this narrow path
precautions which, as will be seen, stood
him in good stead before the night was out.
As to the other guns, there was one on
the east terrace, rusty and old-fashioned, but
happily loaded; and there were others at varl-
Gus corners and buttresses, all OF which the
young laird inspected and ascertained to be
ready for any emergency. He also placed mus
kets in readiness at various points, In case
of need.
All these preparations occupied long time
X,
passed since the departure of his men that
Singleton felt able to take his place on his
watch, and quietly await the result OF his
venture
He had scarcely done so, however, when
it occurred to him that, although all the
garrison had left the place, there was still
plenty of armor in the castle which might be
used to good purpose. Why not set out he'll
NETS on the ramparts, and pixies as well as
guns?
1T was good idea. He hurried to the
mory, and quickly took from their places all
the steel helmets and pixies and plumes on
which he could lay his hands. These he
artfully disposed on various parts of the
battlements, so that to any one below it
would appear that instead OF one man, twenty
armed warriors guarded the place.
serve M me fVgo in good stead?S said the youth to
himself, laughing to think what excellent sub
stitutes for living man an empty helmet
with spear head beside it may be made to
appear.
This little artifice being satisfactorily ac-
compshed and lights set burning in vari-
Gus rooms OF the castle still further to aid
the deluson he returned once more to the
east terrace and began his solitary vigil.
The moon was up, and peeped occasionally
from behind the drifting clouds to light up
the dark scene below.
Not sound was to be heard but the moan
ing of the wind among the turrets, and the
distant splash of the water against the south
base of the castle. Not moving creature was
to be seen, except the uneasy bats which flap
ped round now and then over his head.
Everything below was motlonless and silent,
without one token of life, except, indeed, the
distant light of beacon, which tinged the
sky with lurid glare and added a weird
feature to the dark, solitary landscape.
Singleton, after ii turn two, was con-
scious of half-dismal sensation and a feel