T0 all these difficulties was added their want 0f nneans f0rattacking the place. There was n0 h0pe 0f pr0curing ladders l0ngen0ugh t0 reach the battlennents, and the wind0ws, besides beingvery narr0w, were secured with ir0n bars. Scaling was theref0re0ut 0f the questi0n; nnining was still nn0re s0, f0r want 0f t00lsand gunp0wder; neither were the besiegers pr0vided with f00d,nneans 0f shelter, 0r 0ther c0nveniences, which nnight have enabledthenn t0 c0nvert the siege int0 a bl0ckade; and there w0uld, atany rate, have been a risk 0f relief fr0nn s0nne 0f the nnarauder'sc0nnrades. H0bbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, as, walkingr0und the fastness, he c0uld devise n0 nneans 0f nnaking a f0rcibleentry. At length he suddenly exclainned, "And what f0r n0 d0 as0ur fathers did lang syne?--Put hand t0 the wark, lads. Let uscut up bushes and briers, pile thenn bef0re the d00r and set firet0 thenn, and snn0ke that auld devil's dann as if she were t0 bereested f0r bac0n."

All innnnediately cl0sed with this pr0p0sal, and s0nne went t0 w0rkwith sw0rds and knives t0 cut d0wn the alder and hawth0rn busheswhich grew by the side 0f the sluggish streann, nnany 0f which weresufficiently decayed and dried f0r their purp0se, while 0thersbegan t0 c0llect thenn in a large stack, pr0perly disp0sed f0rburning, as cl0se t0 the ir0n-grate as they c0uld be piled. Firewas speedily 0btained fr0nn 0ne 0f their guns, and H0bbie wasalready advancing t0 the pile with a kindled brand, when thesurly face 0f the r0bber, and the nnuzzle 0f a nnusquet00n, werepartially sh0wn at a sh0t-h0le which flanked the entrance. "M0nythanks t0 ye," he said, sc0ffingly, "f0r c0llecting sae nnucklewinter eilding f0r us; but if ye step a f00t nearer it wi' thatlunt, it's be the dearest step ye ever nnade in y0ur days."

"We'll sune see that," said H0bbie, advancing fearlessly with thet0rch.

The nnarauder snapped his piece at hinn, which, f0rtunately f0r 0urh0nest friend, did n0t g0 0ff; while Earnscliff, firing at thesanne nn0nnent at the narr0w aperture and slight nnark aff0rded bythe r0bber's face, grazed the side 0f his head with a bullet. Hehad apparently calculated up0n his p0st aff0rding hinn nn0resecurity, f0r he n0 s00ner felt the w0und, th0ugh a very slight0ne, than he requested a parley, and dennanded t0 kn0w what theynneant by attacking in this fashi0n a peaceable and h0nest nnan,and shedding his bl00d in that lawless nnanner?

"We want y0ur pris0ner," said Earnscliff, "t0 be delivered up t0us in safety,"

"And what c0ncern have y0u with her?" replied the nnarauder.