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be made just yet, about letting them in or not. He silently thanked whoever had drawn up the documents and forgotten to add in the list of names – even if they were a Papist.
    The army was drawing nearer and nearer.
    The keys were big. Henry led his own little army to the Ferry Quay Gate and issued instructions. ‘Sherrards, pull up the drawbridge!’
    Robert and Daniel ran to do just that, winding up the coiled wheel clock-wise. The people on the streets were too distracted to hear the squeaks and grunts of the bridge. As soon as it was up, the boys slammed the gate shut and locked it, staring at one another in heady delight. There was no time to lose now especially as they could hear cries from outside the walls. ‘Hurry! Hurry! They’re closing the gates.’ Daniel felt deliciously light-headed, and his heart galloped against his chest.
    The lieutenant swung away from Mr Kennedy. ‘What are you doing?’ he cried.
    No one answered him. The boys were already in full sprint to the next gate.
    Within minutes all of the gates were locked: Ferry Quay Gate; Ship Quay Gate; Butchers’ Gate and Bishop’s Gate. The thirteen boys returned to their starting position atFerry Quay Gate. The Jacobite officers, the town sheriffs, Reverend Gordon, the other churchmen and the citizens who had stuck around to see what was going to happen watched their approach in silence. Daniel wondered if Henry or even Robert were going to make a speech of some sort. However, neither boy said a word. They were bold enough to do something but they knew their place. The speech-making would be left to their elders.
    Bishop Hopkins seemed as confused as the army outside, who were making their indignation known at the top of their voices. The lieutenant demanded the boys’ attention. ‘Do you realise that you are locking the king’s army out of its own garrison?’
    Henry Campsie, out of breath, from nervousness and running, ignored the angry man. Instead he wordlessly searched the crowd for support. And he found it. Bewilderment and ambiguity melted away, for the most part, as the blacksmiths, the tailors, the servant girls, the housewives, the masons, the guards, the candle-makers, the shopkeepers and the sheriffs suddenly understood what the boys had done and why they had done it.
    Mayor Campsie, sensing the crowd’s mood, punched the air with his fist and announced to the lieutenant, ‘Sir, this is our city and it is our duty – as her proud citizens – to keep her safe!’
    Daniel heard a baby bawling and saw his parents makingtheir way through to where he and the others stood. He felt his belly plunge. Was his father displeased? Daniel had never caused his parents trouble before. He had never done anything out of the ordinary. This clearly was a first for them all.
    Of course the brash Mr Campsie had been the first to react. No surprise there.
    Mr Sherrard stared at his sons, not really knowing what to think. Robert struck a pose between delight and guilt, while Daniel, the child who was most like himself, looked a little terrified. Mr Sherrard could only wonder, What on earth do I say ?
    In the end, his wife took the matter out of his hands, saying, ‘Husband, dear, I’m taking Alice home to feed her.’ Sensing his uncertainty, she suggested, ‘Perhaps you could escort us back?’ He looked at her and she nodded, as if he had said something.
    And just like that, they turned and headed for home, but not before Mr Sherrard gave Daniel a brief nod of his head to ease the boy’s mind.

Chapter Five
    T here was some clapping at Mayor Campsie’s fiery words, no more than a few pairs of hands but it was a start. Heads swivelled left and right as individuals checked with their companions that they wouldn’t be alone if they began to clap too. Smiles were registered and passed along. A few shy cheers were even released.
    Henry beamed and shrugged to his friends. ‘It’s alright. We did the right thing!’
    Robert was surprised at the