“The enraged and disappointed Frenchman at once began a, heavy fire upon the town, and continued it for a long time, but fortunately it did little or no harm, as the town lay in a somewhat low position, and Fall’s guns being too much elevated, the shot passed over it.

“Next day another letter was sent to the Provost by some fishermen, who were captured while fishing off the Bell Rock.  This letter was as tremendous as the two former.  I can give it to you, word for word, from memory.

“’AT SEA, May 24th.

“’GENTLEMEN,—­See whether you will come to some terms with me, or I come in presently with my cutter into the arbour, and I will cast down the town all over.  Make haste, because I have no time to spare.  I give you a quarter of an hour to your decision, and after I’ll make my duty.  I think it would he better for you, gentlemen, to come some of you aboard presently, to settle the affairs of your town.  You’ll sure no to be hurt.  I give you my parole of honour.  I am your,
                                                       ‘G.  FALL.’

“When the Provost received this he looked round and said, ’Now, gentlemen all, we’ll hae to fight.  Send me Ogilvy.’

“‘Here I am, Provost,’ cried a stout, active young fellow; something like what the captain must have been when he was young, I should think!”

“Ahem!” coughed the captain.

“Well,” continued Lindsay, “the Provost said, ’Now, Ogilvy, you’re a smart cheel, an’ ken aboot war and strategy and the like:  I charge ye to organize the men o’ the toon without delay, and tak’ what steps ye think adveesable.  Meanwhile, I’ll away and ripe oot a’ the airms and guns I can find.  Haste ye, lad, an’ mak’ as muckle noise aboot it as ye can.’

‘"Trust me,’ said Ogilvy, who appeared to have been one of those men who regard a fight as a piece of good fun.

“Turning to the multitude, who had heard the commission given, and were ready for anything, he shouted, ’Now, boys, ye heard the Provost.  I need not ask if you are all ready to fight——­’

“A deafening cheer interrupted the speaker, who, when it ceased, proceeded—­

“’Well, then, I’ve but one piece of advice to give ye:  Obey orders at once.  When I tell ye to halt, stop dead like lampposts; when I say, “Charge!” go at them like wild cats, and drive the Frenchmen into the sea!’ ‘Hurrah!’ yelled the crowd, for they were wild with excitement and rage, and only wanted a leader to organize them and make them formidable.  When the cheer ceased, Ogilvy cried, ’Now, then, every man who knows how to beat a kettledrum and blow a trumpet come here.’

“About twenty men answered to the summons, and to these Ogilvy said aloud, in order that all might hear, ’Go, get you all the trumpets, drums, horns, bugles, and trombones in the town; beat the drums till they split, and blow the bugles till they burst, and don’t give in till ye can’t go on.  The rest of you,’ he added, turning to the crowd, ’go, get arms, guns, swords, pistols, scythes, pitchforks, pokers—­anything, everything—­and meet me at the head of Market-gate—­away!’