CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
HOW LUDAR FIRED THE BEACON ON KNOCKLAY.
I think, had it not been that Ludar immediately fell into a swoon with the wound in his arm, we should never have got him back to the boat.
For such was his wrath and despair that he would have turned and invaded the castle single-handed, preferring to meet his death thus to leaving the maiden in so dire an extremity.

As for me, 'twas well I had this new care thrust upon me, or I too might have fallen into a despair scarce less than his.
I guessed, so soon as the panic was over and Captain Merriman brought round, that order would be given to follow and capture us at all hazard.
Therefore, so soon as our McDonnells arrived, we bore Ludar among us to the boat, and cast loose without delay.

In this we were none too soon, for we had not been long rowing ere a noise of bugles and shouting at the castle gave us to know that the pursuit was begun.

Lucky for us, the woods on either bank were too dense to allow them to get within shot of us.

Nor, after we had got safely past the town of Coleraine, was there much fear that they (being unprovided with boats), could get at close quarters with us.
Once clear, we looked to my comrade's wounds.