As soon as they came within bowshot range the archers opened fire, and the English leaders, seeing that it was already too late to save the machines, which were by this time completely enveloped in flames, and that men would only be sacrificed to no good purpose, halted the troops.  They then moved towards the outwork, but finding this in possession of the Scots, they fell back again to the camp to take council as to the next steps to be adopted.  Archie’s attack had been crowned with complete success.  Apprehending no danger from behind, the English had neglected to place sentries there, and the Scots were already among the tents before their presence was discovered.  Numbers of the English were cut down and the tents fired, and as soon as the English recovered from their first surprise and began to form, Archie gave the word for a retreat.  This was effected without molestation, for the first thought of the English was to save the camp from total destruction.  The reports of the men who escaped from the castle outwork and the outburst of flames around the machines added to the confusion which reigned, and the leaders, who had by the light of the flames ascertained that the assault upon the camp had been made by a small body of the enemy, deemed it of the first importance to move at once to save the machines if it were still possible.

The Scots regained the entrance to the passage without the loss of a single man, and passing through, soon re-entered the castle.  Marjory had laid aside her warlike trappings and awaited her husband’s return at the inner entrance of the passage.

“We have had good success, Marjory,” Archie said as he greeted her, “as you will have seen from the walls.  The greater part of the English camp is destroyed; we have killed great numbers, and have not lost a man.”

“That is good news indeed, Archie.  We, too, have not been quite idle while you have been away.”

“Why, what have you been doing, Marjory?” Archie asked in surprise.

“Come up to the walls and I will show you.”

Archie mounted with her, and gave a start of surprise as he looked towards the machines.  The great body of fire had died down now, but the beams of the machines stood up red and glowing, while a light flickering flame played round them.

“You see we have not been idle, Archie.  We have destroyed the machines, and retaken the outwork, which is now held by Andrew Macpherson with fifty men.”

“Why, what magic is this, wife?”

“No magic at all, Sir Knight.  We have been carrying out the work which you, as a wise and skilful commander, should have ordered before you left.  We have taken advantage of the confusion of the enemy by the fire in their camp, and have made a sortie, and a successful one, as you see.”

“I am delighted, indeed,” Archie said; “and the destruction of those machines is indeed a great work.  Still Sandy and Macpherson should not have undertaken it without orders from me; they might have been cut off and the castle stormed before I came back.”