midnight
I tell you I am not feared . ' So there was nothing for it but to get the rope and pass it under Nicol 's arms , fastening it securely at his back . Thus bound , the culprit was marched through the archway of the old tower into an apartment that was but feebly lit by the reflected glare coming from without . The other boys , as well as Nicol , walked very carefully over the dank-smelling earth , until they came to what seemed to be a large hole dug out of the ground , and black as midnight . This was the dungeon into which Nicol was to be lowered , that he might expiate his offence before the high revels began . -LSB- 1 -RSB- _ Anglicè _ , seized hold of the weasel . But before proceeding to relate how the captive clansman was lowered into the dungeon of the castle on Eilean-na-Rona , it will be necessary to explain why he did not choose to purchase his liberty by the payment of the sum of one penny .