However, she could not blame him, as it seemed as if his course had been forced upon him.

She agreed to start early the next morning.
It was well for Archie that he had brought a guard with him, for before he had been an hour in the hold a boy ran in from the village saying that a party of the Kerrs was close at hand, and would be there in a few minutes.

Archie set his men at once to pile up a barricade of stones breast high at the outer gate, and took his position there with his men.

He had scarcely completed his preparations when the trampling of horses was heard and a party of ten men, two of whom bore torches, headed by young Allan Kerr, rode up.

They drew rein abruptly as they saw the barricade with the line of pikes behind it.
"What want you here, Allan Kerr ?" Archie said.
"I came in search of you, little traitor," young Kerr replied angrily.
"Here I am," Archie said; "why don't you come and take me ?" Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more within.
"I will take you tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow never comes," Archie replied with a laugh.