On arriving at the ditch, the party with the ladders moved to the front.

Already some hay-packs were thrown in, and the forlorn hope sprang forward.
All was still and silent as the grave.

"Quietly, my men, quietly!" said M'Kinnon; "don't press." Scarcely had he spoken when a musket whose charge, contrary to orders, had not been drawn, went off.

The whizzing bullet could not have struck the wall, when suddenly a bright flame burst forth from the ramparts, and shot upward towards the sky.

For an instant the whole scene before us was bright as noonday.