Not a sound was to be heard but the moaning of the wind among the turrets and the distant splash of the water against the south base of the castle.

Not a moving creature was to be seen, except the uneasy bats which flapped round now and then over his head.

Everything below was motionless and silent, without one token of life, except, indeed, the distant light of a beacon, which tinged the sky with a lurid glare, and added a weird feature to the dark, solitary landscape.
Singleton, after a turn or two, was conscious of a half-dismal sensation and a feeling of loneliness, which, as long as he had been busily occupied, had not oppressed him.

He paced quickly to and fro, whistling to himself, and determined not to yield to the effects of his position.
He wondered how far his men were on their way by this time.

Was old Geordie riding at their head?
Suppose they were attacked, how would they come out of it?
He wondered, too, if Tam was-- What was that?
A low groan from one corner of the terrace, and the clanking of a chain! Singleton halted dead, and for a moment his heart was in his mouth.
Then he broke into a laugh.
"Jupiter again! That's the second time he has played ghost to-night! Well, old doggie, you've woke up, have you, and you're going to keep me company, eh ?" And then, as he resumed his march, he talked in a low voice to the dog, who rose quietly from his corner, and with soft, stealthy tread proceeded to accompany his master to and fro along the terrace.
Singleton was ashamed of himself for being as startled as he had been at this incident.
"A pretty hero I shall make at this rate," said he; "if this is the worst alarm I am to have to-night I shall get off easily, eh ?" Jupiter solemnly wagged his tail, and evidently considering he had done enough in accompanying his master some twenty turns up and down, retired quietly to his old corner, and once again composed himself to slumber.
Singleton walked on, halting now and then to make a careful scrutiny all round, and continuing to whistle softly to himself all the time.
Somehow his mind continually found itself reverting to Geordie's story.
It was an old wife's tale, of course, but a queer one too.