A minute or two later Sir John and his followers began to advance.

Archie now called out the rest of his band, who silently took their places in the bushes beside him.

Led by Sir John and his personal retainers, the assailants approached the foot of the rocks and began to make their way up, using the utmost precaution to avoid any noise.

There was no longer any need for concealment, and as the foremost of the assailants began to climb the great boulders at the foot of the precipice, a dozen arrows from the bush above alighted among them; killing three and wounding several others.

Sir John Kerr shouted to his men to follow him, and began to clamber up the hill.