The walls should everywhere be raised ten feet, several strong additional flanking towers added, and a work built beyond the moat to guard the head of the drawbridge.
With such additions Aberfilly would be able to stand a long siege by any force which might assail it.
Timber, stones, and rough labour there were in abundance, and Wallace had insisted upon Archie's taking from the treasures which had been captured from the enemy, a sum of money which would be ample to hire skilled masons from Lanark, and to pay for the cement, iron, and other necessaries which would be beyond the resources of the estate.

These matters in train, Archie rode to Lanark and fetched his proud and rejoicing mother from Sir Robert Gordon's to Aberfilly.

She was accompanied by Sandy Graham and Elspie: the former Archie appointed majordomo, and to be in command of the garrison whenever he should be absent.
The vassals were as good as their word.

For three months the work of digging, quarrying, cutting, and squaring timber and building went on without intermission.

There were upon the estates fully three hundred ablebodied men, and the work progressed rapidly.