The Young Castellan, by George Manville Fenn. 

________________________________________________________________________A Castellan is a person in charge of a castle, and that is what youngRoy Royland has become, while his father, Sir Granby, is away defendinghis king. For the time is about 1640, and there is a move afoot in thecountry of England to do away with the monarchy. In the castle most ofits old defences have not been used for many years, perhaps centuries, and old Ben Martlet sets about restoring them, cleaning up the armour, teaching young Roy the arts of self-defence, by putting him through acourse of fencing, by restoring the portcullis and draw-bridge, and bytraining the men from the neighbouring farms to be soldiers. 

But eventually, through treachery, the Roundheads, as those who opposethe monarchy, are called, manage to take the castle, and to make Roy andhis mother, along with old Ben Martlet and the other defenders, prisoner. This can't do the management of the tenant farms much good. 

Eventually Sir Granby, Roy's father, appears on the scene, and theRoundheads are chased away. As we know from our history books, theMonarchy was restored, and peace spreads again through the land ofEngland. 

________________________________________________________________________THE YOUNG CASTELLAN, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

IN THE OLD ARMOURY. 

"See these here spots o' red rust, Master Roy?"

"I should be blind as poor old Jenkin if I couldn't, Ben. "

"Ay, that you would, sir. Poor old Jenk, close upon ninety he be; andthat's another thing. "

"What do you mean?" said the boy addressed. 

"What do I mean, sir? Why, I mean as that's another thing as shows asold England's wore out, and rustin' and moulderin' away. "

"Is this Dutch or English, Ben?" said the manly-looking boy, who hadjust arrived at the age when dark lads get teased about not havingproperly washed the sides of their faces and their upper lips, whichbegin to show traces of something "coming up. " "I don't understand. "

"English, sir, " said the weather-beaten speaker, a decidedly ugly man ofabout sixty, grizzly of hair and beard, deeply-lined of countenance, andwith a peculiar cicatrice extending from the upper part of his leftcheek-bone diagonally down to the right corner of his lips, and makingin its passage a deep notch across his nose. "English, sir; good oldhonest English. "

"You're always grumbling, Ben, and you won't get the rust off thatmorion with that. "

"That I shan't, sir; and if I uses elber grease and sand, it'll onlycome again. But it's all a sign of poor old England rustin' andmoulderin' away. The idea! And at a place like this. Old Jenk, aswatch at the gate tower, and not got eyes enough to see across the moat, and even that's getting full o' mud!"

"Well, you wouldn't have father turn the poor old man away because he'sblind and worn-out. "

"Not I, sir, " said the man, moistening a piece of flannel with oil, dipping it into some fine white sand, and then proceeding to scrub awayat the rust spots upon the old helmet, which he now held between hisknees; while several figures in armour, ranged down one side of the low, dark room in which the work was being carried on, seemed to be lookingon and waiting to have their rust removed in turn. 

"Then what do you mean?" said the boy. 

"I mean, Master Roy, as it's a pity to see the old towers going downhill as they are. "

"But they're not, " cried the boy. 

"Not, sir? Well, if you'll excuse me for saying as you're wrong, I'llsay it. Where's your garrison? where's your horses? and where's yourguns, and powder, and shot, and stores?"

"Fudge, then! We don't want any garrison nowadays, and as for horses, why, it was a sin to keep 'em in those old underground stables that usedto be their lodging. Any one would think you expected to have some onecome and lay siege to the place. "

"More unlikely things than that, Master Roy. We live in strange times, and the king may get the worst of it any day. "

"Oh, you old croaker!" cried Roy. "I believe you'd like to have a lotmore men in the place, and mount guard, and go on drilling andpractising with the big guns. "

"Ay, sir, I should; and with a place like this, it's what ought to bedone. "

"Well, it wouldn't be bad fun, Ben, " said the boy, thoughtfully. 

"Fun, sir? Don't you get calling serious work like that fun. --But lookye there. Soon chevy these spots off, don't I?"

"Yes, it's getting nice and bright, " said Roy, gazing down at the steelheadpiece. 

"And it's going to get brighter and better before I've done. I'm goingto let Sir Granby see when he comes back that I haven't neglectednothing. I'm a-going to polish up all on 'em in turn, beginning withold Sir Murray Royland. Let me see: he was your greatest grandfather, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he lived in 1480, " said the boy, as the old man rose, set down themorion, and followed him to where the farthest suit of mail stoodagainst the wall. "I say, Ben, this must have been very heavy to wear. "

"Ay, sir, tidy; but, my word, it was fine for a gentleman in those daysto mount his horse, shining in the sun, and looking as noble as a mancould look. He's a bit spotty, though, it's been so damp. But I'llbegin with Sir Murray and go right down 'em all, doing the steeliestones first, and getting by degrees to the last on 'em as is only steelhalf-way down, and the rest being boots. Ah! it's a dolesome changefrom Sir Murray to Sir Brian yonder at the end, and worse still, to yourfather, as wouldn't put nothing on but a breast-piece and back-piece anda steel cap. "

"Why, it's best, " said the boy; "steel armour isn't wanted so much nowthey've got cannon and guns. "

"Ay, that's a sad come-down too, sir. Why, even when I was out underyour grandfather, things were better and fighting fairer. People triedto see who was best man then with their swords. Now men goes to hidebehind hedges and haystacks, to try and shoot you like they would ahare. "

"Why, they did the same sort of thing with their bows and arrows, Ben, and their cross-bows and bolts. "

"Well, maybe, sir; but that was a clean kind o' fighting, and none ofyour sulphur and brimstone, and charcoal and smoke. "

"I say, Ben, it'll take you some time to get things straight. Mean topolish up the old swords and spears, too?"

"Every man jack of 'em, sir. I mean to have this armoury so as yourfather, when he comes back from scattering all that rabble, will lookround and give me a bit of encouragement. "

"Ha, ha!" laughed the boy; "so that's what makes you so industrious. "

"Nay it aren't, sir, " said the man, with a reproachful shake of hishead. "I didn't mean money, Master Roy, but good words, and a sort o'disposition to make the towers what they should be again. He's a finesoldier is your father, and I hear as the king puts a lot o' trust inhim; but it always seems to me as he thinks more about farming when he'sdown here than he does about keeping up the old place as a good cavaliershould. "

"Don't you talk a lot of nonsense, " said Roy, hotly; "if my father likesto live here as country gentlemen do, and enjoy sport and gardening andfarming, who has a better right to, I should like to know?"

"Oh, nobody, sir, nobody, " said the man, scouring away at the rustedsteel. 

"And besides, times are altered. When this castle was built, gentlemenused to have to protect themselves, and kept their retainers to fightfor them. Now there's a regular army, and the king does all that. "

That patch of rust must have been a little lighter on, for the manuttered a low grunt of satisfaction. 

"It would be absurd to make the towers just as they used to be, and shutout the light and cover the narrow slits with iron bars. "

"Maybe, Master Roy; but Sir Granby might have the moat cleared of mud, and kept quite full. "

"What! I just hope it won't be touched. Why, that would mean drainingit, and then what would become of my carp and tench?"

"Ketch 'em and put 'em in tubs, sir, and put some little uns back. "

"Yes, and then it would take years for them to grow, and all thebeautiful white and yellow water-lilies would be destroyed. "

"Yes; but see what a lot of fine, fat eels we should get, sir. There'ssome thumpers there. I caught a four-pounder on a night-line lastweek. "

"Ah, you did, did you?" cried the lad; "then don't you do it againwithout asking for leave. "

"All right, sir, I won't; but you don't grudge an old servant like meone eel?"

"Of course I don't, Ben, " said the lad, importantly; "but the moat ismine. Father gave it to me as my own special fishing-place before hewent away, and I don't allow any one to fish there without my leave. "

"I'll remember, sir, " said the man, beginning to whistle softly. 

"I don't grudge you a _few_ eels, Ben, and you shall have plenty; butnext time you want to fish, you ask. "

"Yes, sir, I will. "

"And what you say is all nonsense: the place is beautiful as it is. Why, I believe if you could do as you liked, you'd turn my mother'spleasaunce and the kitchen-garden into drill-grounds. "

"That I would, sir, " said the man, flushing up. "The idea of abeautiful square of ground, where the men might be drilled, and practisewith sword and gun, being used to grow cabbages in. Er! it's horrid!"

Roy laughed. 

"You're a rum fellow, Ben, " he cried. "I believe you think that peoplewere meant to do nothing else but fight and kill one another. "

"Deal better than spending all their time over books, sir, " said theman; "and you take my advice. You said something to me about being astatesman some day, and serving the king that way. Now, I s'pose Idon't know exactly what a statesman is, but I expect it's something o'the same sort o' thing as Master Pawson is, and--You won't go and tellhim what I says, sir?"

"Do you want me to kick you, Ben?" said the boy, indignantly. 

"Oh, I don't know, sir, " said the man, with a good-humoured smilelighting up his rugged features; "can, if you like. Wouldn't be thefirst time by many a hundred. "

"What! When did I kick you?"

"Lots o' times when you was a little un, and I wouldn't let you drownyourself in the moat, or break your neck walking along the worsest partso' the ramparts, or get yourself trod upon by the horses. Why, I'veknown you kick, and squeal, and fight, and punch me as hard as ever youcould. "

"And did it hurt you, Ben?"

"Hurt me, sir? Not it. I liked it. Showed you was made o' good stuff, same good breed as your father; and I used to say to myself, `That youngcub'll turn out as fine a soldier as his father some day, and I shallhave the job o' training him. ' But deary me, deary me, old England'sa-wasting all away! You aren't got the sperrit you had, my lad; andinstead o' coming to me cheery-like, and saying, `Now, Ben, get out theswords and let's have a good fence, or a bit o' back-sword orbroad-sword-play, or a turn with the singlestick or staves, ' you'realways a-sticking your nose into musty old parchments, or dusty books, along o' Master Palgrave Pawson. Brrr!"

The latter was a low growl, following a loud smack given to the side ofthe helmet, after which, as the lad stood fretting and fuming, the oldservant scrubbed away at the steel furiously. 

"It isn't true, Ben, " the boy cried at last, indignantly; "and perhapsI'm going to be a soldier after all, especially if this trouble goeson. "

"Tchaw! trouble goes on!" said the man, changing the steel headpiece fora cuirass. "There won't be no trouble. First time your father gets asight of the mob of tailors, and shoemakers, and tinkers, with an oldpatch-work counterpane atop of a clothes-prop for their flag, he'll ridealong the front of his ridgement of cavaliers, and he'll shout to 'em inthat big voice of his as I've followed many's the time; and `Don't draw, gentlemen, ' he'll say; `ride the scum down, and make the rest run;' andthen they'll all roar with laughing loud enough to drown the trumpetcharge. My word, I'd a gi'n something to ha' been there to see therebels fly like dead leaves before a wind in November. But it were amean and a cruel thing, Master Roy. Look at that arm, look at theselegs! I'm a better and a stronger man than ever I was, and could sitany horse they'd put me on. But to leave an old soldier, as hadfollowed him as I have, at home here to rust like the rest o' things, when there was a chance for a bit o' fun, it went right to my 'art, sir, and it seemed to me as if it warn't the master as I used to sit with inthe ranks. "

The old fellow was bending now over the breastplate and rubbing hard, while as Roy listened to his excited words, wondering at the way inwhich he seemed to resent what he looked upon as a slight, somethingdropped upon the polished steel with a pat, and spread out; and Roythought to himself that if that drop of hot salt water stayed there, itwould make a deeper rust spot than anything. 

But it did not stay, for the man hastily rubbed it away, and began witha rough show of indifference to hum over an old Devon song, somethingabout "A morn in May, to hear birds whistle and see lambkins play. "

But he ceased as the boy laid a hand upon his shoulder, and bent overthe breastplate and rubbed at it very slowly, listening intently thewhile. 

"Don't you get thinking that, Ben Martlet, " said the boy, gently;"father wanted to take you, and he said you were not too old. "

"Nay, nay, nay, sir; don't you get trying to ile me over. I know. "

"But you don't know, " said the boy, hotly; "he said he should take you, but my mother asked him not to. "

"Ay, she would, sir. She won't let you be a soldier, and she comes overyour father as I was too old and helpless to be any good. "

"You're a stupid, pig-headed, old chump, " cried Roy, angrily. 

"Yes, sir; that's it; now you're at me too. Rusty, and worn-out, andgood for nothing; but it'll soon be over. I used to think it must bevery horrid to have to die, but I know better now, and I shan't be sorrywhen my turn comes. "

"Will--you--listen to--what--I have--to say?" cried the boy. 

"Oh, ay, sir, I'll listen. You're my master, now Sir Granby's away, andnobody shan't say as Ben Martlet didn't do his dooty as a soldier to theend, even if he is set to dig in a garden as was once a castlecourt-yard. "

"Oh, you obstinate old mule!" cried Roy, gripping the man's shoulders, as he stood behind him, sawing him to and fro, and driving his kneesoftly into the broad strong back. "Will you listen?"

"Yes, sir, I'll listen; but that's only your knee. Kick the oldworn-out mule with your boot-toe, and--"

"I've a good mind to, " cried Roy. "Now listen: my mother begged offather to leave you here. "

"Oh, ay, of course. "

"Quiet!" roared Roy, "or I will really kick--hard; because she said shewould feel safer, and that, if any trouble did arise with some of themen, Martlet would put it down at once, and everything would go right. "

The cuirass went down on the dark oaken boards with a loud clang, andthe old soldier sprang to his feet panting heavily. 

"Her ladyship said that?" he cried. 

"Yes. "

"Say it again, sir; say it again!" he cried, in a husky voice. 

Roy repeated the words. 

"Yes, yes, sir; and what--what did Sir Granby say to that?"

"Said he was very sorry and very glad. "

"What?"

"Sorry to leave you, because it didn't seem natural to go back to theregiment without his right-hand man. "

"Right-hand man?"

"Yes; but he was glad my mother felt so about you, for he could go awaymore contented now, and satisfied that all would be right. For though--ahem!--he had the fullest confidence in me, I was too young to have themanagement of men. "

"Wrong, wrong, sir--wrong. On'y want a bit o' training, and you'd makeas good a captain as ever stepped. --Then it was her ladyship's doing, and she said all that?"

"Yes. "

"God bless her! my dear mistress. Here, don't you take no notice o'this here, " cried the rough fellow, changing his tone, and undisguisedlywiping the salt tears from his face. "I don't work so much as I ought, sir, and this here's only what you calls presperashum, sir, as collects, and will come out somewheres. And so her ladyship says that, did her?"

"Yes, Ben. "

"Then why haven't I knowed this afore? Here's three months gone bysince the master went to take command of his ridgement, and I see himoff. Ay, I did send him off looking fine, and here have I been eatingmy heart out ever since. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh, I don't know. Yes, I do. Of course, I wasn't going to tattleabout what my father and mother said, but when I heard you talk as youdid, and seem so cut up and unjust, why, I did. "

"Here, let me have it, my lad! Kick away! Jump on me for an old fool. Why, I'm as blind as old Jenk. Worse. --She'd feel safer if there wasany trouble. Bless her! Oh, what an old fool I've been. No wonderI've got so weak and thin. "

"Ha, ha, ha!"

"What are you laughing at, sir?"

"You weak and thin! Why, you're as strong as a horse. "

"Well, I am, Master Roy, " said the man, with a grim smile of pride. "But I have got a bit thin, sir. "

"Not a bit thinner. "

"Well, I aren't enjoyed my vittles since the master went, sir. Youcan't contradick that. "

"No, and don't want to; but you did eat a four or five pound eel thatyou'd no right to catch. "

"That I didn't, sir. I give it to poor old Jenk to make a pie. I nevertasted it. "

"Then you may catch as many as you like, Ben, without asking. "

"Thank you, sir; but I don't want to go eeling now. Here, let's haveall this fighting-tackle so as you can see your face in it. But I say, my lad, do 'ee, now do 'ee, alter your mind; leave being statesman tothem soft, smooth kind o' fellows like Master Pawson. "

"I don't see why one couldn't be a statesman and a soldier too, " saidthe boy. 

"I don't know nothing about that sort, sir; but I do know how to handlea sword or to load a gun. I do say, though, as you're going wronginstead of right. "

"How?"

"How, sir? Just look at your hands. "

"Well, what's the matter with them?" said the boy, holding them out. 

Ben Martlet uttered a low, chuckling laugh. 

"I'll tell you, sir. S'pose any one's badly, and the doctor comes; whatdoes he do first?"

"Feels his pulse. "

"What else?"

"Looks at his tongue. "

"That's it, my lad; and he knows directly from his tongue what's thematter with him. Now, you see, Master Roy, I aren't a doctor. "

"Not you, Ben; doctors cure people; soldiers kill 'em. "

"Not always, Master Roy, " said the old fellow, whose face during thelast few minutes had lit up till he seemed in the highest of glee. "Aren't it sometimes t'other way on? But look here: doctors look atpeople's tongues to see whether they wants to be physicked, or to havetheir arms or legs cut off. I don't. I looks at a man's hand to seewhat's the matter with him, and if I see as he's got a soft, white handlike a gal's, I know directly he's got no muscles in his arms, no springin his back, and no legs to nip a horse's ribs or to march fifty mile ina day. Now, just look at yours. "

"Oh, I can't help what my hands are like, " said the boy, impatiently. 

"Oh, yes, you can, sir. You've been a-neglecting of 'em, sir, horrible;so just you come to me a little more and let me harden you up a bit. Ifyou've got to be a statesman, you won't be none the worse for being ableto fight, and ride, and run. Now, will you? and--There's some onea-calling you, my lad. "

"Yes, coming!" cried Roy; and he hurried out of the armoury into a long, dark passage, at the end of which a window full of stained glassadmitted the sunbeams in a golden, scarlet, blue, and orange sheaf ofrays which lit up the tall, stately figure of a lady, to whom the boyran with a cry of--

"Yes, mother!"

CHAPTER TWO. 

ROY'S MOTHER AND TUTOR. 

"I had missed you, Roy, " said the lady, smiling proudly on the boy; andhe looked with eyes full of pride at the beautiful woman, who now restedher arm upon his shoulder and walked by his side into the more homelikepart of the old fortalice, whose grim interior had been transformed bywainscoting, hangings, carpets, stained glass, and massive oak furnitureinto the handsome mansion of the middle of the seventeenth century. 

They passed down a broad staircase into a noble hall, and from thenceinto a library whose broad, low, mullioned stone window opened into whathad been the inner court of the castle, whose ramparts and flankingcorner towers were still there; but the echoing stones that had oncepaved it had given place to verdant lawn, trim flower-beds ablaze withbloom, quaintly-cut shrubs, and creepers which beautified the walls onceso bare and grim. 

"I want to talk to you, Roy, " said Lady Royland, sinking into a greatformal chair. "Bring your stool and sit down. "

"Got too big for the stool, mother, " said the boy; "I can't double up mylegs close enough. I'll sit here. "

He threw himself upon the thick carpet at her feet, and rested his armsupon her lap. 

"Want to talk to me? I'd rather hear you read. "

"Not now, my dear. "

"Why, what's the matter, mother?" said the boy, anxiously. "You're aswhite as can be. Got one of your headaches?"

"No, my boy, --at least, my head does ache. But it is my heart, Roy, --myheart. "

"Then you've heard bad news, " cried the boy. "Oh, mother, tell me; whatis it? Not about father?"

"No, no; Heaven forbid, my dear, " cried Lady Royland, wildly. "It isthe absence of news that troubles me so. "

"I ought to say us, " said Roy, angrily; "but I'm so selfish andthoughtless. "

"Don't think that, my boy. You are very young yet, but I do wish youwould give more thought to your studies with Master Pawson. "

The boy frowned. 

"I wish you'd let me read with you, mother, " he said. "I understandeverything then, and I don't forget it; but when that old--"

"Master Palgrave Pawson, " said Lady Royland, reprovingly, but with asmile. 

"Oh, well, Master Palgrave Pawson. P. P. , P. P. What a mouthful it seemsto be!"

"Roy!"

"I've tried, mother; but I do get on so badly with him. I can't helpit; I don't like him, and he doesn't like me, and it will always be thesame. "

"But why? Why do you not like him?"

"Because--because--well, he always smiles at me so. "

"That does not seem as if he disliked you. Rather the reverse. "

"He's so smooth and oily. "

"It is only his manner, my dear. He seems to be very sincere, and tohave your welfare at heart. "

"Yes, that's it, mother; he won't let me alone. "

"But he is your tutor, my dear. You know perfectly well that he came tobe your father's secretary and your tutor combined. "

"Yes, I know, mother, " said the boy, impatiently; "but somehow hedoesn't seem to teach me. "

"But he is very studious, and tries hard. "

"Yes, I know. But he seems to think I'm about seven instead of nearlyseventeen, and talks to me as if I were a very little boy, and--and--andwe don't get on. "

"This sounds very sad, Roy, and I cannot bear to have a fresh troublenow. Your studies are so important to us. "

Roy reached up to get his arms round his mother's neck, drew her headdown, and kissed her lovingly. 

"And she shan't have any more trouble, " he cried. "I'll get wonderfullyfond of old Paw. "

"Roy!"

"Master Palgrave Pawson, then; and I'll work at my lessons and classicslike a slave. But you will read with me, too, mother?"

"As much as you like, my son. Thank you. That has taken away part ofmy load. "

"I wish I could take away the rest; but I know you're fidgeting becausefather hasn't written, and think that something has happened to him. But don't you get fancying that, because there can't be anything. They've only gone after a mob of shoemakers and tailors with acounterpane for flag, and father will scatter them all like deadleaves. "

"Roy! My boy, these are not your words?"

"No, mother; old Ben Martlet said something of that kind to me thismorning. "

"Does he not know, then, how serious it is?"

"Serious? What do you mean by serious?"

Lady Royland drew a deep breath, and laid her hand upon her side as ifin pain. 

"Why, mother, " repeated the boy, "what do you mean by serious?"

"This trouble--this rising, my dear. We have had no news, but MasterPawson has had letters from London, and he tells me that what wassupposed to be a little petty discontent has grown into a seriousrevolution. "

Roy gazed in his mother's troubled face as if he did not quitecomprehend the full extent of her words. 

"Well, and if it has, mother, what then?"

"What then, my boy?"

"Yes. You've nothing to fidget about. Father is there with his men, and he'll soon put a stop to it all. You know how stern he can be whenpeople misbehave. "

"My dear Roy, this, I am afraid, is going to be no little trouble thatyour father can put down with his men. Master Pawson tells me thatthere is every prospect of its being a civil war. "

"What! Englishmen fighting against Englishmen?"

"Yes; a terrible fratricidal war. "

"But who has quarrelled, mother? Oh, the king will soon stop it. "

"Roy, my boy, we have kept you so shut up here in this retired place forhome study, instead of parting with you to send you to one of the greatschools, that in some things you are as ignorant as I. "

"Oh, mother!" cried the boy, laughing. "You ignorant! I only wish Iwere half as learned and clever. Why, father said--"

"Yes, yes, dear; but that is only book-learning. We have been so happyhere that the jarring troubles of politics and the court have notreached our ears; and I, for one, never gave them a thought till, afterall these years of peacefulness, your father found himself compelled toobey the call of duty, and left us. We both thought that it was onlyfor a week or two, and then the disturbance would be at an end; butevery letter he has sent me has contained worse news, till now it isnearly a month since I have heard from him. "

"Then it is because he is putting down the rioters, " said Roy, quickly. 

"Rioters, my boy! Rebels you should say, for I fear that a greatattempt is to be made to overthrow the monarchy. Master Pawson'sinformants assure him that this is the case, and before long, he says, there must be an encounter between the Royal and the Parliamentarytroops. "

"Is Master Pawson right, mother? Royal troops--Parliamentary troops?Why, they're all the same. "

"No, Roy; there is a division--a great division, I fear, anddiscontented people are taking the side against the king. "

"Then I'm sorry for them, " said the boy, flushing. "They'll get a mostterrible beating, these discontented folks. "

"Let us hope so, my boy, so that there may be an end to this terribleanxiety. To those who have friends whom they love in the army, aforeign war is dreadful enough; but when I think of the possibility of awar here at home, with Englishmen striving against Englishmen, Ishudder, and my heart seems to sink. "

"Look here, " cried the boy, as he rose and stood with his hand restingupon his mother's shoulder, "you've been fidgeting and fancying allsorts of things, because you haven't heard from father. "

"Yes, yes, " said Lady Royland, faintly. 

"Then you mustn't, mother. 'Tis as I say; he is too busy to write, orelse he hasn't found it easy to send you a letter. I'll take the ponyand ride over to Sidecombe and see when the Exeter wagon comes in. There are sure to be letters for you, and even if there are not, it willmake you more easy for me to have been to see, and I can bring you backwhat news there is. I'll go at once. "

Lady Royland took hold of her son's hand and held it fast. 

"No, " she said, making an effort to be firm. "We will wait another day. I have been fidgeting, dear, as you say, and it has made me nervous andlow-spirited; but I'm better now for talking to you, my boy, and lettingyou share my trouble. I dare say I have been exaggerating. "

"But I should like to ride over, mother. "

"You shall go to-morrow, Roy; but even then I shall be loath to let you. There, you see I am quite cheerful again. You are perfectly right;your father is perhaps away with his men, and he may have sent, and theletter has miscarried in these troublous times. "

"I shouldn't like to be the man who took it, if it has miscarried, " saidthe boy, laughing. 

"Poor fellow! it may have been an accident. There, go to Master Pawsonnow; and Roy, my dear, don't talk about our trouble to any one for thepresent. "

"Not to old Pawson?"

"Master Pawson. "

"Not to Master Pawson?" said Roy, smiling. 

"Not unless he speaks to you about it; then, of course, you can. "

"But he won't, mother. He only talks to me about the Greek and Latinpoets and about music. I say, you don't want to see me squeezing a bigfiddle between my knees and sawing at it with a bow as if I wanted tocut all the strings, do you, mother?"

"My dear boy, not unless you wished to learn the violoncello. "

"Well, I don't, " said Roy, pettishly; "but old Master Pawson is alwaysbringing his out of its great green-baize bag and talking to me aboutit. He says that he will instruct me, and he is sure that my fatherwould have one sent to me from London if I asked him. Just as if thereare not noises enough in the west tower now without two of us sawingtogether. _Thrrum, thrrum, throomp, throomp, throomp_!"

Roy struck an attitude as if playing, running his left hand up and downimaginary strings while he scraped with his right, and produced no badimitation of the vibrating strings with his mouth. 

"I should not dislike for you to play some instrument to accompany myclavichord, Roy, " said Lady Royland, smiling at the boy's antics. 

"Very well, then; I'll learn the trumpet, " cried the lad. "I'm off nowto learn--not music. "

"One moment, Roy, my dear, " said Lady Royland, earnestly. "Don't letyour high spirits get the better of your discretion. "

"Of course not, mother. "

"You do not understand me, my dear. I am speaking very seriously now. I mean, do not let Master Pawson think that you ridicule his love ofmusic. It would be very weak and foolish, and lower you in his eyes. "

"Oh, I'll mind, mother. "

"Recollect that he is a scholar and a gentleman, and in your father'sconfidence. "

Roy nodded, and his lips parted as if to speak, but he closed themagain. 

"What were you going to say, Roy?"

"Oh, nothing, mother. "

"Nothing?"

"Well, only--that--I was going to say, do you like Master Pawson?"

"As your tutor and your father's secretary, yes. He is a very cleverman, I know. "

"Yes, he's a very clever man, " said Roy, as, after kissing his motheraffectionately, he went off towards the west tower, which had beenspecially fitted up as study and bedchamber for the gentleman who hadcome straight from Oxford to reside at Sir Granby Royland's seat acouple of years before this time. "Yes, he's a very clever man, " saidRoy to himself; "but I thought I shouldn't like him the first day hecame, and I've gone on thinking so ever since. I don't know why, but--Oh, yes, I do, " cried the boy, screwing up his face with a look ofdisgust: "it's because, as he says, I've no soul for music. "

For just at that moment a peculiar long-drawn wailing sound came fromthe open window of the west tower, and a dog lying curled up on thegrass in the sun sprang up and began to bark, finishing off with a long, low howl, as it stretched out its neck towards the open window. 

"Poor old Nibbs! he has no soul for it, either, " said the boy tohimself, as his face lit up with a mirthful expression. "It woke himup, and he thought it was cats. Wonder what tune that is? He won'twant me to interrupt him now. Better see, though, and speak to himfirst, and then I'll go and see old Ben polish the armour. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE. 

The wail on one string went on, and naturally sounded louder as RoyRoyland opened a door to stand gazing in at the quaint octagonal room, lit by windows splayed to admit more light to the snug quarters hungwith old tapestry, and made cosy with thick carpet and easy-chair, andintellectual with dwarf book-cases filled with choice works. These hadoverflowed upon the floor, others being piled upon the tops of chairsand stacked in corners wherever room could be found, while some wereeven ranged upon the narrow steps of the corkscrew stone staircase whichled to the floor above, occupied by Master Palgrave Pawson for abedchamber, the staircase being continued up to the leads, where itended in a tiny turret. 

"I wonder what father will say, my fine fellow, when he finds what a lotof his books you've brought up out of the library, " said Roy to himself, as he stood watching the plump, smooth-faced youngish man, who, with anoblong music-book open before him on the table, was seated upon a stool, with a 'cello between his legs, gravely sawing away at the strings, andfrowning severely whenever, through bad stopping with his fingers--andthat was pretty often--he produced notes "out of tune and harsh. " Themusician was dressed, according to the fashion of the day, in darkvelvet with a lace collar, and wore his hair long, so that itinconvenienced him; the oily curls, hanging down on either side of hisfat face like the valance over an old-fashioned four-post bedstead, swaying to and fro with the motion of the man's body, and needing, fromtime to time, a vigorous shake to force them back when they encroachedtoo far forward and interfered with his view of the music. 

The slow, solemn, dirge-like air went on, but the player did not turnhis head, playing away with grave importance, and giving himself agentle inclination now and then to make up for the sharp twitches causedby the tickling hair. 

"You saw me, " said Roy, speaking to himself, but at the musician, "forone of your eyes turned this way; but you won't speak till you've got tothe end of that bit of noise. Oh, how I should like to shear off thoselong greasy curls! They make you look worse even than you do whenthey're all twisted up in pieces of paper. It doesn't suit your round, fat face. You don't look a bit like a cavalier, Master P. P. ; but Isuppose you're a very good sort of fellow, or else father would not havehad you here. "

Just then the music ended with an awkwardly performed run up an octaveand four scrapes across the first and second strings. 

"Come in, boy, " said the player, taking up a piece of resin to apply tothe hair of the bow, "and shut the door. "

He spoke in a highly-pitched girlish voice, which somehow always tickledRoy and made him inclined to laugh, and the desire increased upon thisoccasion as he said, solemnly--

"Saraband. "

"Oh! Who's she?" said the boy, wonderingly. 

The secretary threw his head back, shaking his curls over his broadturn-down collar, and smiled pityingly. 

"Ah, " he said, "now this is another proof of your folly, Roy, inpreferring the society of the servants to that of the noble works withwhich your father has stored his library. What ignorance! A sarabandis a piece of dance music, Italian in origin; and that was a verybeautiful composition. "

"Dance?" cried the boy. "People couldn't dance to a tune like that. Ithought it was an old dirge. "

"Want of taste and appreciation, boy. But I see you would prefersomething light and sparkling. I will--sit down--play you a coranto. "

It was on Roy's lips to say, "Oh, please don't, " but he contentedhimself with crossing the room, lifting some books off an oakenwindow-seat, his tutor watching him keenly the while, and putting themon the floor; while, with his head still thrown back on one side, MasterPalgrave Pawson slowly turned over the leaves of his music-book with thepoint of his bow. 

Roy seated himself, with a sigh, after a glance down through the openwindow at the glistening moat dotted with the great silver blossoms anddark flat leaves of the water-lilies, seeing even from there the shadowyforms of the great fish which glided slowly among the slimy stalks. 

"Ready?" said the musician, giving his hand a flourish. 

"Yes, sir, " said Roy, aloud; and then to himself, "Oh, what an awfulfib. " Then he wrinkled up his brows dismally, and began to think of oldBen polishing the armour and swords; but the next moment his facesmoothed out stiffly, and he grew red in his efforts to keep fromlaughing aloud, for Master Pawson commenced jerking and snatching fromthe strings a remarkable series of notes, which followed one another ina jigging kind of fairly rapid sequence, running up and down the gamutand in and out, as if the notes of the composer had suddenly becomeanimated, and, like some kind of tiny, big-headed, long-tailed goblins, were chasing one another in and out of the five lines of the stave, leaping from bar to bar, never stopping for a rest, making fun of theflats and sharps, and finally pausing, breathless and tired, as theplayer now finally laid down the bow, took out a fine lacedhandkerchief, and began to wipe his fingers and mop his brow. 

"There, " he said, smiling; "you like that bright, sparkling compositionbetter?"

"No, " said Roy, decisively; "no, I don't think I do. "

"I am glad of it; very glad of it. I was afraid that you preferred thelight and trivial coranto to the graceful saraband. "

"But, I say. Master Pawson, the Italians surely don't dance to suchmusic as that?"

"I have never been in Italy, my dear pupil, but I believe they do. Going?"

Roy had risen from his chair. 

"Yes, sir; I thought, as you were practising, you would not want me tostop and read to-day, and you are writing a letter, too. "

"Letter?" said the secretary, hurriedly reaching towards an open sheetupon the table and turning it over with the point of his bow. "Oh, that? Yes, some notes--some notes. Well, it is a fine day, andexercise is good, and perhaps I shall run through a few morecompositions. So you can go, and we will study a little in the evening, for we must not neglect our work, Roy, my dear pupil; we must notneglect our work. "

"No, sir. Thank you, sir, " said the boy; and, for fear of a change ofdecision, he hurried from the room and made his way out upon the oldramparts, to begin walking leisurely round the enclosed garden, andlooking outward from the eminence upon which the castle was built acrossthe moat at the foot, and away over the sunny forest towards the villageand little church, whose spire rose about two miles away. 

"I wish he wouldn't always call me `my dear pupil, ' and smile at me asif he looked down from ever so high up. I don't know how it is, but Ialways feel as if I don't like him. I suppose it's because he's soplump and smooth. 

"Seems hard, " mused the boy, seating himself in one of the crenellationsof the rampart, and thinking deeply, "that he should get letters withnews from London, and poor mother not have a line. That was a letter onthe table, though he pretended it was not, for I could see it began likeone. I didn't want to read it. Perhaps he was ashamed of being alwayswriting letters. Don't matter to me. Afraid, perhaps, that he'll betold that he ought to attend more to teaching me. Wish he'd be alwayswriting letters. I can learn twice as much reading with mother. "

It was very beautiful in that sunny niche in the mouldering stones closeto the tower farthest away from that occupied by the secretary, and aspot much favoured by the boy, for from there he could look right overthe square gate-way with its flanking towers, and the drawbridge whichwas never drawn, and the portcullis which was never lowered. 

"Can't hear him playing here, " thought Roy that day; and hecongratulated himself upon the fact, without pausing to think that thedistance was so short that the notes should have been audible. 

Roy had been successful in getting off his reading with the tutor, buthe was very undecided what to do next, for there were so many things totempt him, and his mind kept on running in different directions. Oneminute he was dwelling on his mother's troubles and the want of newsfrom his father, and from this it was a natural transition to thinkingof how grand it would be if he could prevail upon her to let him go upto that far-away mysterious city, which it took days to reach onhorseback, and then he could take her letter and find where his fatherwas lying with his regiment, and see the army, --maybe see the king andqueen, and perhaps his father might let him stay there, --at all eventsfor a time. 

Then he was off to thinking about the great moat, for twice over asplash rose to his ears, and he could see the rings of water whichspread out and made the lily-leaves rise and fall. 

"That was the big tench, " he said to himself. "Must catch that fellowsome day. He must weigh six or seven pounds. It ought to be a goodtime now. Want a strong line, though, and a big hook, for he'd run inand out among the lily-stems and break mine. Now, if I knew wherefather was, I could write and ask him to buy me one and send it down byhis next letter. No: he wouldn't want to be bothered to buy mefishing-lines when he's with his regiment. I know, " he said to himself, after a pause; "old Ben has got the one he caught the big eel with. I'll make him lend me that. Poor old Ben! who'd ever have thought thathe could cry. For it was crying just as a little boy would. Seemsfunny, because he has been a brave soldier, and saved father's lifeonce. Shouldn't have thought a man like that could cry. "

Roy began to whistle softly, and then picked up a little cushion-likepatch of velvety green moss and pitched it down towards a jackdaw thatwas sitting on a projecting stone just below a hole, watching himintently, first with one eye and then with the other, as if puzzled toknow what he was doing so near to his private residence, where his wifewas sitting upon a late batch of eggs, an accident connected with ratshaving happened to the first. 

It did not occur to the bird that it was quite impossible for itsnesting-place to be reached without a swing down from above by a rope;but, being still puzzled, it tried to sharpen its intellectual facultiesby standing on one leg and scratching its grey poll with the claws ofthe other, a feat which made it unsteady and nearly topple over towardsthe deep moat below. 

"_Tah_!" it cried, in resentment of the insult when the little greenmoss cushion was thrown; and, as the bird sailed away, Roy rose andwalked slowly along the rampart, through the corner tower, and then ontowards the front, where that over the outer gate-way stood tall, massive, and square. Here the boy left the rampart, entered through alow arched door, and stood in the great chamber over the main gate-way, where the rusty chains were wound round the two capstans, held fast nowby their checks, and suspending the huge grated portcullis, with itsspikes high enough to be clear of a coachman driving a carriage. 

"Wonder whether we could let that down?" thought Roy. 

He had often had the same thought, but it came very strongly now, and hebegan to calculate how many men it would take to lower the portcullis, and whether he, Ben, and a couple more could manage it. 

"Looks as if everything must be set fast with rust, " he thought, and hewas about to turn and descend; but as he reached the corner where thespiral steps led down, he stood where they also led up to anotherchamber in the massive stone-work, and again higher to the leads. 

The result was that in his idle mood Roy began to ascend, to findhalf-way up, by the slit which gave light, that the jackdaws had beenbusy there too, coming in and out by the loop-hole, and building a nestwhich was supported upon a scaffolding of sticks which curved up fromthe stone step on which it rested, and from that to the splay and sillby the loop-hole. 

"Only an old one, " said the boy to himself, and he brought the greatedifice down with a sharp kick or two, thinking that it must be about ayear since any one had come up that way. 

"What a lot of the old place seems no use!" he said to himself, as, withthe dry sticks crackling beneath his feet, he climbed up the darkstairway and entered the next chamber through its low arched door. 

"Why, what a jolly private room this would make!" he said to himself;"only wants a casement in and some furniture. I'll ask father to let mehave it for my play--I mean study; no, I don't--I mean odds and endsplace. "

He paused--after glancing out at the beautiful view over the woodlandcountry dotted with meadow-like pastures in which the ruddy cattle ofthe county grazed--by the open fireplace with the arms of the Roylandscut in stone beneath the narrow shelf, and the sight of this opening, with the narrow, well-made chimney and some projecting stone blocks fromthe fire-back, set him thinking. 

"Fight differently now, " he said, as he recalled the object of thefurnace before him, and how he had heard or read that it was used onpurpose to melt lead ready for pouring down upon the besiegers who mighthave forced their way across the drawbridge to the portcullis. "Fancymelting lead here to pour down upon men's heads! What wretches we musthave been in the old days. "

He altered his mind, though, directly, as he went back to the stairway. 

"Perhaps we never did pour any down, for I don't think anybody ever didattack the castle. "

Thinking he might as well go a little higher, he mounted the spiralinstead of descending, the dry elm twigs brought in by the jackdawswhich made the untenanted corners their home crackling again beneath hisfeet. 

Passing out of the corner turret, which supported a stout, newflag-pole, he was now on the leaded roof of the great square tower, which frowned down upon the drawbridge and gazed over the outergate-way, in whose tower old Jenkin Bray, the porter, dwelt, and whomRoy could now see sitting beside the modern iron gate sunning himself, his long white hair and beard glistening in the light. 

There were openings for heavy guns in front here, and a broad, level, projecting parapet with a place where the defenders could kneel, andwhich looked like a broad seat at the first glance, while at its footwas a series of longish, narrow, funnel-shaped openings, over which theboy stood, gazing down through them at the entrance to the maingate-way, noting how thoroughly they commanded the front of where theportcullis would stand when dropped, and where any enemies attacking andtrying to break through would be exposed to a terrible shower of moltenlead, brought up from the furnace in the chamber below to pour down uponthe besiegers, while those who assailed them were in perfect safety. 

"Horrid!" muttered Roy; "but I don't know; the enemy should stop awayand leave the people in the castle alone. But hot lead! Boiling waterwouldn't seem so bad. But surely Master Pawson's friend is wrong; wecan't be going to have war here in England. Well, if we do, there'snothing to bring them here. "

Roy left the machicolations and knelt upon the broad stone seat-likeplace to stretch himself across the parapet, and look down, over thenarrow patch of stone paving, down into the deep moat, whose waters werelit up by the sunshine, so that the boy could see the lily and otherwater-plant stems and clumps of reed mace; at the farther edge the greatwater-docks and plantains, with the pink-blossomed rush. But hisattention was wholly riveted by the fish which swarmed in the sunnydepths, and for a time he lay there upon his breast, kicking up hisheels and studying the broad-backed carp, some of which old age haddecked with patches of greyish mould. There were fat tench, too, walloping about among the lilies, and appearing to enjoy the pleasure offorcing their way in and out among the leaves and stems; while the carpsailed about in the open water, basking in the sunshine, and seemed tofind their satisfaction in leaping bodily out of the water to fall backwith a splash. 

There were roach, too, in shoals, and what seemed remarkable was thatthey kept swimming close up to where a great pike of nearly three feetlong lay motionless, close to a patch of weed. 

"Must be asleep, " thought Roy, "or not hungry, and they all know it, because he would soon snap up half a dozen of them. "

Then, as he lay lazily watching the fish in the drowsy sunshine whichhad warmed the stones, the political troubles of the nation and thegreat cloud of war, with its lightnings, destruction, and death, wereunseen. He was surrounded by peace in the happiest days of boyhood, andtrouble seemed as if it could not exist. But the trumpet-blast had rungout the call to arms, and men were flocking to that standard and tothis, and the flash and thunder of guns had begun. 

But not there down to that sleepy, retired part of Devon. There was thecastle built for defence, and existing now as Sir Granby Royland's happycountry home, surrounded by its great estate with many tenants, whileits heir was stretched out there in the sunshine upon his chest, kickingup his heels, and thinking at that moment that it would not be a badamusement to bring up a very long line with a plummet at the end, tobait it, and then swing it to and fro till he could drop it right outwhere the great pike lay, ten or a dozen feet from the drawbridge. 

"I will some day, " said the boy, half aloud; "but it's too much troublenow. "

He swung himself round and lay there, looking back over the top of thespacious building, on whose roof he was, right across the now floral oldcourt-yard, and between the two angle towers, to the wide-spreadingacres of the farms and woodlands which formed his father's estate. 

The jackdaws flew about, and began to settle at the corners as he lay sostill and languidly said to himself--

"Need to lie still; it wouldn't do to slip over backward. I shouldn'teven go into the moat, for I should come down on those stones. "

"Stupid to be in dangerous places, " he said to himself directly after, and, rolling over, he let himself down upon the broad seat-like place, where he could lie and watch the prospect just as well. 

"Rather stupid of me not to come up here oftener, " he thought. "It's acapital place. I will ask father to let me have all this old emptytower to myself. What's that? A fight?"

For there was a sudden rush upward of jackdaws from where they hadblackened the farthest corner tower to the left, and, looking in thatdirection as he lay, he saw the reason of the sudden whirr of wings andoutburst of sharp, harsh cries, for there upon the leads, and holding onby the little turret which covered the door-way of the spiral staircase, stood Master Pawson. 

"Feels like I do, I suppose, " thought Roy, as the secretary cast hiseyes round the old building, particularly watchful of the pleasaunce, but keeping right back by the outer crenelles as if not wishing to beseen. 

At first Roy felt that the secretary saw him, and as his eyes roved onand he made no sign, the boy's hand went to his pocket in search of hishandkerchief to wave to him. He did not withdraw it, but lay lazilywatching while the secretary now turned his back and stood gazing rightaway. 

"Never saw him do anything of that kind before, " thought Roy. "What'she looking after? I shouldn't have thought he had ever been up there inhis life. "

Roy lay quite still, with his eyes half closed, and all at once thesecretary drew out his white laced handkerchief, wiped his foreheadthree times with a good deal of flourish, and returned it, after whichhe slowly stepped into the turret opening and backed out of sight. 

"Mind you don't slip, " said Roy, tauntingly, but quite conscious of thefact that his words could not be heard. "Why, he has gone down like abear--backward. I could run down those stairs as fast as I came up. "

Perhaps it was the warm sunshine, perhaps it was from laziness, but, whatever the cause, Roy Royland went off fast asleep, and remained sofor quite a couple of hours, when, starting up wonderingly, and notquite conscious of the reason why he was there, he looked about him, andfinally over the great parapet, to see the secretary beyond the fartherend of the drawbridge, talking in a very benign way to the old porter, who stood with bent head listening to his words. 

"Why, it seems only a few moments ago that I saw him on the leads overhis chamber staring out across country, and he must have been downsince, and had a walk. --How time does go when you're snoozing, " thoughtRoy, "and how stupid it is to go to sleep in the daytime! I won't do itagain. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

THE USE OF A SWORD. 

Several days passed away, but Lady Royland always put off sending insearch of news, and seemed to be more cheerful, so that Roy soon forgothis anxiety in the many things he had to think about, --amusements, studies, and the like. But he had a few words with his father's oldfollower on the subject of the absence of news, one day, when Ben wasbusy, as usual, in the armoury. 

"Not heard lately from the master, sir? Pish, that's nothing; soldiershave got their swords and pistols to think about, not their pens. Bestsoldiers I ever knew couldn't write at all. Enough for them to do tofight. You'll hear from him some day, and when you do, you'll know ashe has been pretty busy putting the people straight, --more straight thansome on 'em'll like to be, I know. Sarve 'em right; nobody's a right tofight agen the king. --Looks right, don't it?"

He held up an old sword which he had rubbed and polished till it flashedin the light. 

"Splendid!" said Roy. "Is it sharp?"

"Sharp enough to take your head off at one sweep. "

"Nonsense!" said the boy, laughing. 

"Oh, it's true enough, Master Roy. Here, you stand all quite stiff andstraight, and I'll show you. "

"No, thank you, Ben. Suppose I try it on you. "

"There you are, then, " said the man; "but I must have one, too, for aguard. "

He handed the boy the sword, and took up another waiting to be cleanedfrom galling rust, and, throwing himself on guard, he cried--

"Now then, cut!"

"No; too dangerous, " said Roy. 

"Not a bit, my lad, because you couldn't touch me. "

"I could, " said Roy, "where I liked. "

"Try, then. "

"Not with this sharp sword. "

"Very well, then, take one of those; they've no more edge than a woodenone. It's time you did know how to use a sword, sir. "

Ben exchanged his glittering blade, too, and once more stood on guard. 

"I won't bother you now about how you ought to stand, sir, " he said;"that'll come when I begin to give you some lessons. You go just as youlike, and hit where you can. "

"No, no, " said the boy. "I don't want to hurt you, Ben. "

"Won't hurt me, sir; more likely to hurt yourself. But do you knowyou're standing just as badly as you possibly could? and if I was yourenemy, I could take off your head, either of your ears, or your legs, aseasily as look at you. "

Roy laughed, but he did not seem to believe the old soldier's assertion, and, giving his blunt sword a whirl through the air, he cried--

"Now, then, Ben; which leg shall I cut off?"

"Which you like, sir. "

Roy made a feint at the right leg, and, quickly changing the directionof his weapon, struck with it softly at the old soldier's left. 

"Tchah!" cried the old man, as blade met blade, his sword, in the mosteffortless way, being edge outward exactly where Roy struck. "Why, doyou know, sir, if I'd been in arnest with you, that you would have beenspitted like a cockchafer on a pin before you got your blade round tocut?"

"Not I, " said the boy, contemptuously. 

"Very well, sir; you'll see. Now, try again, and cut hard. Don't letyour blade stop to get a bit of hay and a drop of water on the way, butgive it me quick. "

"But I don't want to hurt you, Ben. "

"Well, I don't, either; and, what's more, I don't mean to let you. "

"But I shall, I'm sure, if I strike hard. "

"You think so, my lad; but do you know what a good sword is?"

"A sword. "

"Yes, and a lot more. When a man can use it properly, it's a shield, and a breastplate, helmet, brasses, and everything else. Now, I'll justshow you. Helmet, say. Now, you cut straight down at my head, just asif you were going to cut me in two pieces. "

"Put on one of the old helmets, then. "

"Tchah! I don't want any helmets. You cut. "

"And suppose I hurt you?"

"S'pose you can't. "

"Well, I don't want to, " said Roy; "so look out. "

"Right, sir; chop away. "

Roy raised his sword slowly, and the old soldier dropped the point ofhis and began to laugh. 

"That won't do, my lad; lift your blade as if you were going to bring itdown again, not as if you meant to hang it up for an ornament on a peg. "

"Oh, very well, " said Roy. "Now, then, I'm going to cut at you sharp. "

"Oh, are you, sir?" said Ben. "Now, if ever you're a soldier, and meeta man who means to kill you, shall you tell him you're going to cut athim sharply? because, if you do, you'll have his blade through youbefore you've half said it. "

"You are precious fond of your banter, " cried Roy, who was a little putout now. "Serve you right if I do hurt you. But this blade won't cut, will it?"

"Cut through the air if you move it sharp; that's about all, my lad. "

"Then take that, " cried the boy. 

_Clang_--_cling_--_clatter_!

Roy stared, for his sword had come in contact with that of the oldsoldier, and then was twisted out of his grasp and went rattling alongthe floor, Ben going after it to fetch it back. 

"Try again, sir. "

Roy was on his mettle now, and, grasping the hilt more firmly, heessayed to deliver a few blows at his opponent's legs, sides, and arms. But Ben's sword was always there first, and held at such an angle thathis weapon glided off violently, as if from his own strength indelivering the blow; and, try hard as he could, he could not get nearenough to make one touch. 

"Arms and head, my lad; sharp. "

Better satisfied now that he would not hurt his adversary, Roy struckdown at the near shoulder, but his sword glanced away. Then at thehead, the legs, everywhere that seemed to offer for a blow, but alwaysfor his blade to glance off with a harsh grating sound. 

"There, it's of no use; you can't get near me, my lad, " said Ben, atlast. 

"Oh, yes, I can. I was afraid of hurting you. I shall hit hard ashard, " cried Roy, who felt nettled. "But I don't want to hurt you. Let's have sticks. "

"I'll get sticks directly, sir. You hit me first with the sword. "

"Oh, very well; if you will have it, you shall, " cried Roy, and, withoutgiving any warning now, he delivered a horizontal blow at the oldsoldier's side; but it was turned off just as the dozen or so whichfollowed were thrown aside, and then, with a quiet laugh, the old fellowsaid--

"Now, every time you hit at me, I could have run you through. "

"No, you couldn't, " said Roy, sharply. 

"Well, we'll see, sir. Put that down, and use this; or, no, keep yoursword; the hilt will protect your hand in case I come down upon it. "

He took up a stout ash stick and threw himself on guard again, waitingfor Roy's blow, which he turned off, but before the next could descend, the boy's aim was disordered by a sharp dig in the chest from the end ofthe ash stick; and so it was as he went on: before he could strike healways received a prod in the chest, ribs, arms, or shoulders. 

"Oh, I say, Ben, " he cried at last; "I didn't know you could use a sticklike that. "

"Suppose not, my lad; but I knew you couldn't use a sword like that. Now, I tell you what: you'd better come to me for an hour every morningbefore breakfast, and I'll begin to make such a man of you as yourfather would like to see when he comes back. "

"Well, I will come, Ben, " said the lad; "but my arm does not ache somuch now, and I don't feel quite beaten. Let's have another try. "

"Oh, I'll try all day with you, if you like, sir, " said the old soldier;"only, suppose now you stand on guard and let me attack. "

"With swords?" said Roy, blankly. 

"No, no, " said Ben, laughing; "I don't want to hurt you. We'll keep tosticks. Better still: I want you to get used to handling a sword, soI'll have the stick and you shall defend yourself with a blade. "

"But that wouldn't be fair to you, " cried Roy. "I might hurt you, whileyou couldn't hurt me. "

"Couldn't I?" said the old fellow, drily. "I'm afraid I could, and morethan you could me. Now, then, take that blade. "

He took one from the wall, a handsome-looking sword, upon which thearmourer who made it had bestowed a good deal of ingenious labour, carving the sides, and ornamenting the hilt with a couple of beautifullyfluted representations in steel of the scallop shell, so placed thatthey formed as complete a protection to the hand of the user as thatprovided in the basket-hilted Scottish claymore. 

"Find that too heavy for you, sir?"

"It is heavy, " said Roy; "but one seems to be able to handle it easily. "

"Yes, sir; you'll find that will move lightly. You see it's so wellbalanced by the hilt being made heavy. The blade comes up lightly, and, with a fair chance, I believe I could cut a man in two with it after afew touches on a grindstone. "

"Ugh!" ejaculated Roy; "horrid!"

"Oh, I don't know, sir. Much more horrid if he cut you in two. It's ofno use to be thin-skinned over fighting in earnest. Man's got to defendhimself. Now, then, let's give you a word or two of advice to beginwith. A good swordsman makes his blade move so sharply that you canhardly see it go through the air. You must make it fly about likelightning. Now then, ready?"

"Yes; but you won't mind if I hurt you?"

"Don't you be afraid of doing that, sir. If you hurt me, it'll serve meright for being such a bungler. _En garde_!"

Roy threw himself into position, and the old soldier attacked him veryslowly, cutting at his neck on either side, then down straight at hishead, next at his arms and legs; and in every case, though in a bunglingway, Roy interposed his blade after the fashion shown by his adversary. 

Then the old fellow drew back and rested the point of his ash stick uponhis toe, while Roy panted a little, and smiled with satisfaction. 

"Come, " he said; "I wasn't so bad there. "

"Oh, no, you weren't so bad there, because you showed that you'd gotsome idea of what a sword's for; but when you're ready we'll beginagain. May as well have something to think about till to-morrowmorning. First man you fight with won't stop to ask whether you'reready, you know. "

"I suppose not; but wait a minute. "

"Hour, if you like, sir; but your arms'll soon get hard. Seems a pity, though, that they're not harder now. I often asked the master to let meteach you how to use a sword. "

"Yes, I know; but my mother always objected. She doesn't like swords. I do. "

"Of course you do, sir. It's a lad's nature to like one. Ready?"

"Yes, " cried Roy, standing on his guard; "but look out this time, Ben, because I mean you to have something. "

"That's right, sir; but mind this: I'm not going to let my stick travellike a snail after a cabbage-leaf this time. I'm going to cut as Ishould with a sword, only I'm going to hit as if you were made of glass, so as not to break you. Now!"

The old soldier's eyes flashed as he threw one foot forward, Roy doingthe same; but it was his newly polished sword that flashed as heprepared to guard the cuts, taking care, or meaning to take care, tohold his blade at such an angle that the stick would glance off. Theencounter ended in a few seconds. _Whizz, whirr, pat, pat, pat_, andthe elastic ash sapling came down smartly upon the boy's arms, legs, sides, shoulders, and finished off with a rap on the head, with theresult that Roy angrily threw the sword jangling upon the floor, andstood rubbing his arms and sides viciously. 

"You said you were going to hit at me as if I were made of glass, " criedthe boy. 

"So I did. Don't mean to say those taps hurt you?"

"Hurt? They sting horribly. "

"Why, those cuts would hardly have killed flies, sir. But why didn'tyou guard?"

"Guard? I did guard, " cried Roy, angrily, as he rubbed away; "but youwere so quick. "

"Oh, I can cut quicker than that, sir. You see I got in before you didevery time. I'd cut, and was on my way to give another before you wereready for the first. Come, they don't tingle now, do they?"

"Tingle? Yes. Here, I want a stick. I'm not going to leave offwithout showing you how it does hurt. "

"Better leave off now, sir, " said the man, grinning. 

"But I don't want to, " cried Roy; and picking up the sword which he hadhandled with a feeling of pride, he took the other stick, and, crying"Ready!" attacked in his turn, striking hard and as swiftly as he could, but _crack, crack, crack_, wherever he struck, there was the defensivesapling; and at last, with his arm and shoulder aching, the boy loweredhis point and stood panting, with his brow moist with beads ofperspiration. 

"Well done!" cried Ben. "Now that's something like a first lesson. Why, those last were twice as good as any you gave before. "

"Yes, " said Roy, proudly; "I thought I could make you feel. Some ofthose went home. "

"Not one of them, my lad, " said Ben, smiling; "you didn't touch meonce. "

"Not once?"

"No, sir; not once. "

"Is that the truth, Ben?"

"Every word of it, sir. But never you mind that; you did fine; and ifyou'll come to me every morning, I'll make you so that in three months Ishall have to look out for myself. "

"I don't seem to have done any good at all, " said Roy, pettishly. 

"Not done no good, sir? Why, you've done wonders; you've taken all theconceit out of yourself, and learned in one lesson that you don't knowanything whatever about a sword, except that it has a blade and a hiltand a scabbard. And all the time you'd been thinking that all you hadto do was to chop and stab with it as easy as could be, and that therewas nothing more to learn. Now didn't you?"

"Something like it, " said Roy, who was now cooling down; "but, ofcourse, I knew that you had to parry. "

"But you didn't know how to, my lad; and look here, you haven't tried tothrust yet. Here, give me a sharp one now. "

"No, I can't do any more, " said Roy, sulkily. "I don't know how. "

"That's a true word, sir; but you're going to try?"

"No, I'm not, " said Roy, whom a sharp sting in one leg from the worstcut made a little vicious again. 

"Come, come, come, " said the old soldier, reproachfully. "That aren'tlike my master's son talking; that's like a foolish boy without anythingin his head. "

"Look here, Ben; don't you be insolent. "

"Not I, Master Roy. I wouldn't be to you. Only I speak out because I'mproud of you, my lad, and I want to see you grow up into a man like yourfather. I tried hard not to hurt you, sir, but I suppose I did. But Ican't say I'm sorry. "

"Then you ought to be, for you cut at me like a brute. "

The old soldier shook his head sadly. 

"You don't mean that, Master Roy, " he said; "and it's only becauseyou're tingling a bit; that's all. "

The man's words disarmed Roy, and the angry frown passed away, as hesaid, frankly--

"No, I don't mean it now, Ben. The places don't tingle so; but I say, there'll be black marks wherever you cut at me. "

"Never mind, sir; they'll soon come white again, and you'll know nexttime that you've got to have your weapon ready to save yourself. Well, I dunno. I meant it right, but you've had enough of it. Some day SirGranby'll let you go to a big fencing-master as never faced a bit o'steel drawn in anger in his life, and he'll put you on leather pads andthings, and tap you soft like, and show you how to bow, s'loot, and cutcapers like a Frenchman, and when he's done with you I could cut you upinto mincemeat without you being able to give me a scratch. "

"Get out!" cried Roy. "You don't think anything of the sort. What timeshall I come to-morrow morning--six?"

"No, sir, no. Bed's very nice at six o'clock in the morning. You stopthere, and then you won't be hurt. "

"Five, then?" said Roy, sharply. 

"Nay, sir; you wait for the big fencing-master. "

"Five o'clock, I said, " cried Roy. 

The old soldier took the sword Roy had held, and fetching a piece ofleather from a drawer began to polish off the finger-marks left upon thesteel. 

"I said five o'clock, Ben, " cried the boy, very decisively. 

"Nay, Master Roy, you give it up, sir. I'm too rough an old chap foryou. "

"Sorry I was so disagreeable, Ben, " said the boy, offering his hand. 

"Mean it, sir?"

"Why, of course, Ben. "

The hand was eagerly seized, and, it being understood that the swordpractice was to begin punctually at six next morning, they separated. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

ROY TAKES HIS NEXT LESSON. 

The clock in the little turret which stood out over the gate-way facingLady Royland's garden had not done striking six when Roy entered thearmoury next morning, to find Ben hard at work fitting the interior of alight helmet with a small leather cap which was apparently well stuffedwith wool. 

"Morning, Ben, " said the boy. "What's that for?"

"You, sir. "

"To wear?"

"Of course. Just as well to take care of your face and head when you'rehandling swords. You can use it with the visor up or down, 'cording towhat we're doing. You see, I want to learn you how to use a sword likea soldier, and not like a gentleman who never expects to see trouble. "

"Ready?"

"Yes, sir, quite; and first thing 's morning we'll begin where we leftoff, and you shall try to learn that you don't know how to thrust. Nothing like finding out how bad you are. Then you can begin to seebetter what you have to learn. "

"Very well, " said Roy, eagerly. "You'll have to look out now then, Ben, for I mean to learn, and pretty quickly. "

"Oh, yes; you'll learn quickly enough, " said Ben, placing the helmetupon the table and taking the pair of sticks up from where he had placedthem. "But say, Master Roy, I have been working here. Don't you thinkthe place looks better?"

"I think my father would be proud of the armoury if he could see theweapons, " said Roy, as he looked round. "Everything is splendid. "

The old soldier smiled as he walked from suit to suit of armour, some ofwhich were obsolete, and could only be looked upon as curiosities of theday; but, in addition, there were modern pieces of defensive armour, beautifully made, with carefully cleaned and inlaid headpieces of thenewest kind, and of those the old soldier seemed to be especially proud. Then he led the way on to the stands of offensive weapons, whichnumbered quaint, massive swords of great age, battle-axes, and maces, and so on to modern weapons of the finest steel, with, guns, petronels, and horse-pistols of clumsy construction, but considered perfect then. 

"Yes, sir, I'm proud of our weepuns, " said Ben; "but I aren't a bitproud of the old castle, which seems to be going right away to ruin. "

"That it isn't, " cried Roy, indignantly. "It has been repaired andrepaired, whenever it wanted doing up, again and again. "

"Ah! you're thinking about roofs and tiles and plaster, my lad. I wasthinking about the defences. Such a place as this used to be. Look atthe gun-carriages, --haven't been painted for years, nor the gunscleaned. "

"Well, mix up some paint and brush it on, " said Roy, "and clean up theguns. They can't be rusty, because they're brass. "

"Well, not brass exactly, sir, " said the man, thoughtfully. "It's moreof a mixtur' like; but to a man like me, sir, it's heart-breaking. "

"What! to see them turn green and like bronze?"

"Oh, I don't mind that so much, sir; it's seeing of 'em come down somuch, like. Why, there's them there big guns as stands in thecourt-yard behind the breastwork. "

"Garden, Ben. "

"Well, garden, sir. Why, there's actooally ivy and other 'nockshusweeds growing all over 'em. "

"Well, it looks peaceful and nice. "

"Bah! A gun can't look peaceful and nice. But that aren't the worst ofit, sir. I was along by 'em a bit ago, and, if you'll believe me, whenI put my hand in one, if there warn't a sharp, hissing noise!"

"A snake? Got in there?"

"Snake, sir? No! I wouldn't ha' minded a snake; but there's no snakeshere. "

"There was one, Ben, for I brought it up out of the woods, and kept itin a box for months, till it got away. Then that's where it is. "

"Nay. It were no snake, sir. It were one of them little blue andyaller tomtit chaps as lays such lots o' eggs. I fetches a stick, and Iwas going to shove it in and twist it in the hay and stuff o' the nestand draw it out. "

"But you didn't?"

"No, sir, I didn't; for I says to myself, if Sir Granby and her ladyshiplike the place to go to ruin, they may let it; and if the two littlebirds--there was a cock and hen--didn't bring up twelve of the rummiestlittle, tiny young uns I ever did see. There they was, all a-sitting ina row along the gun, and it seemed to me so comic for 'em to be therethat I bust out a-laughing quite loud. "

"And they all flew away?"

"Nay, sir, they didn't; they stopped there a-twittering. But if thatgun had been loaded, and I'd touched it off with a fire-stick, it wouldhave warmed their toes, eh? But would you clean up the old guns?"

"I don't see why you shouldn't, Ben. They're valuable. "

"Vallerble? I should think they are, sir. And, do you know, I will;for who knows what might happen? They tell me down in the village thatthere's trouble uppards, and people gets talking agen the king. Ah!I'd talk 'em if I had my way, and make some of 'em squirm. --Yes, I willtidy things up a bit. Startle some on 'em if we was to fire off a gunor two over the village. "

"They'd burst, Ben. Haven't been fired for a hundred years, I shouldsay. Those brass guns were made in Queen Elizabeth's time. "

"Oh, they wouldn't burst, sir; I shouldn't be afraid of that. --But thisis not learning to thrust, is it?"

"No. Come on, " cried Roy, and he took one of the stout ash rods. "Here, hadn't I better put on this helmet?"

"Not yet, sir. You can practise thrusting without that. Now then, hereI am, sir. All ready for you on my guard. Now, thrust. "

Ben dropped into an easy position, with his legs a little bent, one footadvanced, his left hand behind him, and his stick held diagonally acrosshis breast. 

Roy imitated him, dropping into the same position. 

"Where shall I stab you?" he cried. 

"Just wherever you like, sir, --if you can. "

The boy made a quick dart forward with his stick, and it passed by histeacher, who parried with the slightest movement of his wrist. 

"I said thrust, sir. "

"Well, I did thrust. "

"That wasn't a thrust, sir; that was only a poke. It wouldn't have gonethrough a man's coat, let alone his skin. Now, again!"

The boy made another push forward with his stick, which was alsoparried. 

"Nay, that won't do, my lad; so let's get to something better. Now, I'mgoing to thrust at you right in the chest. Enemies don't tell you wherethey're going to hit you, but I'm going to tell you. Now, look out!"

Roy prepared to guard the thrust, but the point of the old man's stickstruck him sharply in the chest, and he winced a little, but smiled. 

"Now, sir, you do that, but harder. "

Roy obeyed, but failed dismally. 

"Of course, " said Ben. "Now that's because you didn't try the rightway, sir. Don't poke at a man, but throw your arm right back till youget your hand level with your shoulder, and sword and arm just in aline. Then thrust right out, and let your body follow your arm, --thenyou get some strength into it. Now, once more. "

Roy followed his teacher's instructions. 

"Better--ever so much, sir. Now again--good; again--good. You'll soondo it. Now, can't you see what a lot of weight you get into a thrustlike that? One of your pokes would have done nothing. One like thatlast would have sent your blade through a man. Now again. "

Roy was now fully upon his mettle, and he tried hard to acquire someportion of the old soldier's skill, till his arm ached, and Ben cried"Halt!" and began to chat about the old-fashioned armour. 

"Lots of it was too clumsy, sir. Strong men were regularly loaded down;and I've thought for a long time that all a man wants is a steel cap andsteel gloves. All the rest he ought to be able to do with his sword. "

"But you can't ward off bullets with a sword, Ben, " said Roy. 

"No, sir; nor you can't ward 'em off with armour. They find out thejyntes, if they don't go through. "

"Would that suit of half-armour be much too big for me, Ben?" said Roy, pausing before a bronzed ornamental set of defensive weapons, which hadevidently been the work of some Italian artist. 

"No, sir, I shouldn't think it would. You see that was made for a smallman, and you're a big lad. If you were to put that on, and used a bito' stuffing here and there, you wouldn't be so much amiss. It's in finecondition, too, with its leather lining, and that's all as lissome andgood as when it was first made. "

"I should like to try that on some day, Ben, " said the boy, eagerlyexamining the handsome suit. 

"Well, I don't see why not, sir. You'd look fine in that. Wants threeor four white ostrich feathers in the little gilt holder of the helmet. White uns would look well with that dark armour. Looks just likecopper, don't it?"

"How long would it take to put it on?" said Roy. 

"Hour, sir; and you'd want some high buff boots to wear with it. "

"An hour?" said Roy. "There wouldn't be time before breakfast. "

"No, sir. But I tell you what--I've only cleaned and polished and iledthe straps. If you feels as if you'd like to put it on, I'll go over itwell, and see to the buckles and studs: shall I?"

"Yes, do, Ben. "

"That I will, sir. And I say, if, when you're ready, I was to saddleone of the horses proper, and you was to mount and her ladyship see you, she'd be sorry as ever she wanted you to be a statesman. "

Roy shook his head dubiously. 

"Oh, but she would, sir. Man looks grand in his armour and feathers. "

"But I'm only a boy, " said Roy, sadly. 

"Who's to know that when you're in armour and your visor down, sir? Asuit of armour like that, and you on a grand horse, would make a man ofyou. It's fine, and no mistake. "

"But you were sneering at armour a little while ago, Ben, " said Roy. 

"For fighting in, sir, but not for show. You see, there's somethingabout armour and feathers and flags that gets hold of people, and asoldier's a man who likes to look well. I'm an old un now, but Iwouldn't say no to a good new uniform, with a bit o' colour in it; butif you want me to fight, I don't want to be all plates and things like alobster, and not able to move. I want to be free to use my arms. Rightenough for show, sir, and make a regiment look handsome; but fighting'slike gardening, --want to take your coat off when you go to work. "

"But you will get that armour ready, Ben?"

"Course I will, sir. On'y too glad to see you take a liking to a bit o'armour and a sword. Now, then, what do you say to beginning again?"

"I'm ready, " said Roy, but with a longing look at the armour. 

"Then you shall just put that helmet on, and have the visor down. Youwon't be able to see so well, but it will save your face from anaccidental cut. "

He placed the helmet on the boy's head, adjusted the cheek straps, anddrew back. 

"Find it heavy, sir?"

"Rather! Feels as if it would topple off as soon as I begin to move. "

"But it won't, sir. The leather cap inside will stop that. Now, then, if you please, we'll begin. I'm going to cut at you slowly and softly, and you've got to guard yourself, and then turn off. I shall be veryslow, but after a bit I shall cut like lightning, and before I've done Ishan't be no more able to hit you than you're able now to hit me. "

Roy said nothing, and the man began cutting at him to right and to left, upward from the same direction and downward, as if bent upon cleavinghis shoulders; and for every cut Ben showed him how to make the properguard, holding his weapon so that the stroke should glance off, andlaying especial weight upon the necessity for catching the blow aimedupon the _forte_ of the blade toward the hilt, and not upon the _faible_near the point. 

Then came the turn of the head, and the horizontal and down right cutswere, after further instruction, received so that they, too, glancedoff. Roy gaining more and more confidence at every stroke. But thathelmet was an utter nuisance, and half buried the wearer. 

"I'm beginning to think you're right, Ben, about the armour, " said thelad, at last. 

"Yes, 'tis a bit awkward, sir; but you'll get used to it. If you candefend yourself well with that on, why, of course, you can without. Now, then, suppose, for a change, you have a cut at me. "

"Why, what tomfoolery is this?" said a highly-pitched voice; and Roytried to snatch off his helmet as he caught sight of the secretarystanding in the door-way looking on. 

But the helmet would not come off easily, and, after a tug or two, Roywas fain to turn to the old soldier. 

"Here, " he said, hastily, "unfasten this, Ben, quick!"

"Yes, sir; but I don't see as you've any call to be in such a hurry. You've a right to learn to use a sword if you like. Only the strapfastened over this stud, and there you are. "

Red-faced and annoyed, Roy faced the secretary, who had walked slowlyinto the armoury, to stand looking about him with a sneer of contemptupon his lip. 

"Only practising a little sword-play, sir, " said the boy, as soon as hishead was relieved. 

"Sword-play! Is there no other kind of play a boy like you can take to?What do you want with sword-play?"

"My father's a soldier, " said Roy. 

"Yes; but you are not going to be a fighting man, sir; and, behindhandas you are with your studies, I think you might try a little more to doyour instructor credit, and not waste time with one of the servants insuch a barbaric pursuit as this. Lady Royland is waiting breakfast. You had better come at once. "

Feeling humbled and abashed before the old soldier, Roy followed thesecretary without a word, and they entered the breakfast-room together, Lady Royland looking up pale and disturbed, and, upon seeing her son'sface, exclaiming--

"Why, Roy, how hot and tired you look! Have you been running?"

The secretary laughed contemptuously. 

"No, mother; practising fencing with Ben. "

"Oh, Roy!" cried his mother, reproachfully; "what can you want withfencing? My dear boy, pray think more of your books. "

Master Pawson gave the lad a peculiar look, and Roy felt as if he shouldlike to kick out under the table so viciously that the sneering smilemight give place to a contraction expressing pain. 

But Roy did not speak, and the breakfast went on. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

BEN MARTLET FEELS RUSTY. 

"Come to me in half an hour, Roy, " said Master Pawson, as they rose fromthe table, the boy hurrying away to the armoury to find Ben busy asever, and engaged now in seeing to the straps and fittings of theItalian suit of bronzed steel. 

"Thought I'd do it, sir, " he said, "in case you ever asked for it; but Is'pose it's all over with your learning to be a man now. "

"Indeed it is not, " said Roy, sharply. "I'm sure my father would notobject to my learning fencing. "

"Sword-play, sir. "

"Very well--sword-play, " said Roy, pettishly; "so long as I do notneglect any studies I have to go through with Master Pawson. "

"And I s'pose you've been a-neglecting of 'em, sir, eh?" said the oldman, drily. 

"That I've not. Perhaps I have not got on so well as I ought, butthat's because I'm stupid, I suppose. "

"Nay, nay, nay! That won't do, Master Roy. There's lots o' things Ican do as you can't; but that's because you've never learnt. "

"Master Pawson's cross because I don't do what he wants. "

"Why, what does he want you to do, sir?"

"Learn to play the big fiddle. "

"What!" cried the man, indignantly. "Then don't you do it, my lad. "

"I don't mean to, " said Roy; "and I don't want to hurt my mother'sfeelings; and so I won't make a lot of show over learning sword-playwith you, but I shall go on with it, Ben, and you shall take the swordsor sticks down in the hollow in the wood, and I'll meet you there everymorning at six. "

"Mean it, sir?"

"Yes, of course; and now I must be off. I was to be with Master Pawsonin half an hour. "

"Off you go, then, my lad. Always keep to your time. "

Roy ran off, and was going straight to Master Pawson's room in thecorner tower, but on the way he met Lady Royland, who took his arm andwalked with him out into the square garden. 

"Why, mother, you've been crying, " said the boy, tenderly. 

"Can you see that, my dear?"

"Yes; what is the matter? I know, though. You're fretting about nothearing from father. "

"Well, is it not enough to make me fret, my boy?" she said, reproachfully. 

"Of course! And I'm so thoughtless. "

"Yes, Roy, " said Lady Royland, with a sad smile; "I am afraid you are. "

"I try not to be, mother; I do indeed, " cried Roy; "but tell me--isthere anything fresh? Yes; you've had some bad news! Then you've heardfrom father. "

"No, my boy, no; the bad news comes through Master Pawson. He has heardagain from his friends in London. "

"Look here, mother, " cried the boy, hotly, "I want to know why he shouldget letters easily, and we get none. "

Lady Royland sighed. 

"Father must be too busy to write. "

"I am afraid so, my dear. "

"But what is the bad news he has told you this morning?"

They were close up to the foot of the corner tower as Roy asked thisquestion; and, as Lady Royland replied, a few notes of some air beingplayed upon the violoncello high up came floating down to their ears. 

"He tells me that there is no doubt about a terrible revolution havingbroken out, my boy; that the Parliament is raising an army to fightagainst the king, and that his friends feel sure that his majesty'scause is lost. "

"Then he doesn't know anything about it, mother, " cried the boy, indignantly. "The king has too many brave officers like father who willfight for him, and take care that his cause is not lost. Oh, I say, hark to that!"

"That" was another strain floating down to them. 

"Yes, " said Lady Royland, sadly; "it is Master Pawson playing. He iswaiting for you, Roy. "

"Yes, playing, " said the boy, hotly. "It makes me think of what I readwith him one day about that Roman emperor--what was his name?--playingwhile Rome was burning. But don't you fret, mother; London won't beburnt while father's there. "

"You do not realise what it may mean, my boy. "

"Oh, yes, I think I do, mother; but you don't think fairly. You are tooanxious. But there! I must go up to him now. "

"Yes, go, my boy; and you will not cause me any more anxiety than youcan help?"

"Why, of course I won't, mother. But if it is going to be a war, don'tyou think I ought to learn all I can about being a soldier?"

"Roy! No, no!" cried Lady Royland, wildly. "Do I not suffer enough onyour father's account?"

"There, I won't say any more, mother dear, " said Roy, clinging to herarm; "and now I'll confess something. "

"You have something to confess?" said Lady Royland, excitedly, as shestopped where they were, just beneath the corner tower, and quiteunconscious of the fact that a head was cautiously thrust out of one ofthe upper windows and then drawn back, so that only the tip of an earand a few curls were left visible. "Then, tell me quickly, Roy; youhave been keeping back some news. "

"No, no, mother, not a bit; just as if I would when I know how anxiousyou are! It was only this. Old Ben is always grumbling about the placegoing to ruin, as he calls it, and I told him, to please him, that hemight clean up some of the big guns. "

"But you should not have done this, my dear. "

"No; I'll tell him not to, mother. And I'd made an arrangement with himto meet him every morning out in the primrose dell to practisesword-cutting. I was going to-morrow morning, but I won't go now. "

Lady Royland pressed her lips to the boy's forehead, and smiled in hisface. 

"Thank you, my dear, " she said, softly. "Recollect you are everythingto me now! And I want your help and comfort now I am so terribly alone. Master Pawson is profuse in his offers of assistance to relieve me ofthe management here, but I want that assistance to come from my son. "

"Of course!" said Roy, haughtily. "He's only the secretary, and if anyone is to take father's place, it ought to be me. "

"Yes; and you shall, Roy, my dear. You are very young, but now thistrouble has come upon us, you must try to be a man and my counsellor sothat when your father returns--"

She ceased speaking, and Roy pressed her hands encouragingly as he sawher lips trembling and that she had turned ghastly white. 

"When your father returns, " she said, now firmly, "we must let him seethat we have managed everything well. "

"Then why not, as it's war time, let Ben do what he wanted, and we'llput the place in a regular state of defence?"

"No, no, no, my dear, " said Lady Royland, with a shudder. "Why shouldyou give our peaceful happy home even the faintest semblance of war, when it can by no possibility come into this calm, quiet, retired nook. No, my boy, not that, please. "

"Very well, mother. Then I'll go riding round to see the tenants, andlook after the things at home just as you wish me to. Will that do?"

Lady Royland smiled, and then pressed her son's arm. 

"Go up now, then, to Master Pawson's room, " she said; "and recollectthat one of the things I wish you to do is to be more studious than youwould be if your father were at home. "

Roy nodded and hurried up into the corridor, thinking to himself thatMaster Pawson would not like his being so much in his mother'sconfidence. 

"Then he'll have to dislike it. He has been a bit too forward lately, speaking to the servants as if he were master here. I heard him quitebully poor old Jenk one day. But, of course, I don't want to quarrelwith him. "

Roy ascended the staircase and entered the room, to find the secretarybending over a big volume in the Greek character; and, as he looked upsmiling, the boy felt that his tutor was about the leastquarrelsome-looking personage he had ever seen. 

"Rather a long half-hour, Roy, is it not?" he said. 

"Yes, sir; I'm very sorry. My mother met me as I was coming across thegarden, and talked to me, and I could not leave her in such trouble. "

"Trouble? Trouble?" said the secretary, raising his eyebrows. 

"Of course, sir, about the bad news you told her this morning. "

"Indeed! And did Lady Royland confide in you?"

"Why, of course!" said Roy, quickly. 

"Oh, yes, --of course! Her ladyship would do what is for the best. Well, let us to our reading. We have lost half an hour, and I am goingto make it a little shorter this morning, for I thought of going acrossas far as the vicarage. "

"To see Master Meldew, sir?"

"Yes; of course. He has not been here lately. Now, then, where we leftoff, --it was about the Punic War, was it not?"

"Yes, sir; but don't let's have anything about war this morning. "

"Very well, " said the secretary; "let it be something about peace. "

It was something about peace, but what Roy did not know half an hourlater, for his head was in a whirl, and his reading became quitemechanical. For there was the trouble his mother was in, her wishes asto his conduct, and his secret interview with Ben, to keep on buzzing inhis brain, so that it was with a sigh of relief that he heard thesecretary's command to close his book, and he gazed at him wonderingly, asking himself whether the words were sarcastic, for Master Pawsonsaid--

"I compliment you, Roy; you have done remarkably well, and been veryattentive this morning. By the way, if her ladyship makes any remarkabout my absence, you can say that you expect Master Meldew has asked meto stay and partake of dinner with him. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Not unless she asks, " continued the secretary. "In all probability shewill not notice my absence. "

Roy descended with his books; then felt that he should like to be aloneand think, and to this end he made his way to the gloomy old guard-roomon the right of the great gate-way, ran up the winding stair, and soonreached the roof, where he lay down on the breastwork over themachicolations, and had not been there long before he heard steps, and, looking over, saw Master Pawson cross the drawbridge and go out of thefarther gate-way, watching him unseen till he turned off by the pathwayleading through the village and entering the main road. 

Then it occurred to Roy that, as he had an unpleasant communication tomake, he could not do better than get it over at once. So he descended, and began to search for the old soldier; but it was some time before hecould find him out. 

Yet it seemed to be quite soon enough, for the old fellow looked verygrim and sour as he listened to the communication. 

"Very well, Master Roy, " he said; "the mistress is master now, and it'syour dooty to obey her; but it do seem like playing at fast and loosewith a man. There, I've got no more to say, --only that I was beginningto feel a bit bright and chirpy; but now I'm all going back'ard again, and feel as rusty as everything else about the place. "

"I'm very sorry, Ben, for I really did want to learn, " said Roy, apologetically. 

"Yes, sir, I s'pose you did; and this here's a world o' trouble, and thelonger you lives in it the more you finds out as you can't do what youlike, so you grins and bears it; but the grinning's about the hardestpart o' the job. You're 'bliged to bear it, but you aren't 'bliged togrin; and, when the grins do come, you never has a looking-glass aforeyou, but you allus feels as if you never looked so ugly afore in yourlife. "

"But you'll have to help me in other things, Ben. "

"Shall I, sir? Don't seem to me as there's anything else as I can helpyou over. "

"Oh, but there is, --while the war keeps my father away. "

"War, sir? Nonsense! You don't call a bit of a riot got up by someragged Jacks war. "

"No; but this is getting to be a very serious affair, according to whatMaster Pawson told my mother this morning. "

"Master Pawson, sir! Why, what does he know about it?"

"A good deal, it seems. Some friends of his in London send him news, and they said it is going to be a terrible civil war. "

"And me not up there with Sir Granby!" groaned the man. "Oh, dear! oh, dear! it's a wicked, rusty old world!"

"But I've promised to help my mother all I can, Ben, and you mustpromise to help me. "

"Of course, sir; that you know. But say, sir, war breaking out, and weall rusted up like this! We ought to be ready for anything. "

"So I thought, Ben; but my mother says there's not likely to be troublein this out-of-the-way place. "

"Then bless my dear lady's innocence! says Ben Martlet, and that's me, sir. Why, you never knows where a spark may drop and the fire begin torun. "

"No, Ben. "

"And if this is sure to be such a peaceful spot, why did the oldRoylands build the castle and make a moat and drawbridge, and all therest of it? They didn't mean the moat for nothing else, sir, but carp, tench, and eels. "

"And pike, Ben. "

"No, sir. They thought of very different kind of pikes, sir, I can tellyou, --same as they I've got on the walls yonder in sheaves. But there;her ladyship gives the word to you, and you gives it to me, and Ishouldn't be worth calling a soldier if I didn't do as I was ordered, and directly, too, and--Hark!"

The old soldier held up his hand. 

"Horses!" cried Roy, excitedly. "Why, who's coming here?"

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

NEWS FROM THE WAR. 

Roy and the old soldier hurried to a slit which gave on the road, andthe latter began to breathe hard with excitement as his eyes rested uponthree dusty-looking horsemen, well-mounted, and from whose round-topped, spiked steel caps the sun flashed from time to time. 

"Why, they're dragoons!" cried the old fellow, excitedly. "Enemies, perhaps, and we're without a drawbridge as'll pull up. Here, quick, take a sword, Master Roy. Here's mine. Let's make a show. They won'tknow but what there's dozens of us. "

Roy followed the old soldier's commands, and, buckling on the sword, hurried with him down to the outer gate, just as the venerable oldretainer slammed it to with a heavy, jarring sound, and challenged thehorsemen, whom he could hardly see, to halt. 

"Well done, old man!" muttered Ben. "The right stuff, Master Roy, though he is ninety-four. "

"What is it?" cried Roy, as he reached the gate, where the men weredismounting and patting their weary troop-horses. 

"Despatches for Lady Royland, " said one, who seemed to be the leader. "Are you Master Roy, Sir Granby's son?"

"Yes. Have you come from my father?"

"Yes, sir, and made all the haste we could; but we've left two bravelads on the road. "

"What! their horses broke down?"

"No, sir, " said the man, significantly; "but they did. "

He took off his cap as he spoke, and displayed a bandage round hisforehead. 

"My mate there's got his shoulder ploughed, too, by a bullet. "

"Open the gates, Jenks, " cried Roy. 

"One moment, sir, " whispered Ben. "Get the despatches and see ifthey're in your father's writing. "

"Right, " whispered back Roy. "Here!--your despatches. "

"No, sir, " said the man, firmly. "That's what they asked who barred theway. Sir Granby's orders were to place 'em in his lady's hands. "

"Quite right, " said Roy. "But show them to me and let me see myfather's hand and seal. "

"Yes, that's right enough, sir, " said the man. "We might be enemies;"and he unstrapped a wallet slung from his right shoulder, took out agreat letter tied with silk and sealed, and held it out, first on oneside, then upon the other, for the boy to see. 

"Yes, " cried Roy, eagerly, "that's my father's writing, and it is hisseal. Open the gate, Jenkin, and let them in. Why, my lads, you lookworn-out. "

"Not quite, sir; but we've had a rough time of it. The country's fullof crop-ears, and we've had our work cut out to get here safe. "

"Full of what?" said Roy, staring, as the troopers led in their horses, and he walked beside the man who bore the despatches. 

"Crop-ears, sir, --Parliamentary men. "

"Is it so bad as that?"

"Bad? Yes, sir. "

"But my father--how is he?"

"Well and hearty when he sent us off, sir. "

"Come quickly then, " cried Roy, hurrying the men along to the greatdrawbridge, over which the horses' hoofs began to rattle loudly. Butthey had not gone half-way across the moat before there was the rustleof a dress in front, and, looking ghastly pale and her eyes wild withexcitement, Lady Royland came hurrying to meet them. 

Roy sprang to her, crying--

"Letters from father, and he is quite well!"

He caught his mother in his arms, for her eyes closed and she reeled andwould have fallen; but the next minute she had recovered her composure, and held out her hand for the packet the trooper had taken from hiswallet. 

"Thank you, " she said, smiling. "Martlet, take these poor tired fellowsinto the hall at once, and see that they have every attention. Set someone to feed their horses. "

"Thank you, my lady, " said the man, with rough courtesy, as he took offhis steel cap. 

"Ah, you are wounded, " cried Lady Royland, with a look of horror. 

"Only a scratch, my lady. My comrade here is worse than I. "

"Your wounds shall be seen to at once. "

"If I might speak, my lady, a place to sit down for an hour or two, andsomething to eat and drink, would do us more good than a doctor. Wehaven't had a good meal since we rode away from Whitehall and along thewestern road a week ago. "

"Eight days and a harf, comrad', " growled one of his companions. 

"Is it? Well, I haven't kept count. "

"See to them at once, Martlet, " said Lady Royland; and the horses wereled off, while, clinging to her son's arm, the anxious wife and motherhurried into the library, threw herself into a chair, tore open thegreat letter, and began, wild-eyed and excited, to read, while Roywalked up and down the room with his eyes fixed longingly upon thedespatch till he could bear it no longer. 

"Oh, mother!" he cried, "do, do, do pray give me a little bit of thenews. "

"My poor boy! yes. How selfish of me. Roy, dear, there is somethingterribly wrong! Your dear father says he has been half-mad withanxiety, for he has sent letter after letter, and has had no news fromus. So at last he determined to send his own messengers, and despatchedfive men to guard this letter to us--but I saw only three. "

"No, " said Roy, solemnly; "the roads are in the hands of the enemy, mother, and two of the poor fellows were killed on the way. Two ofthese three are wounded. "

"Yes, yes! Horrible! I could not have thought matters were so bad asthis. "

"But father is quite well?"

"Yes, yes, my dear; but he says the king's state is getting desperate, and that he will have to take the field at once. But the letters Isent--that he sent, my boy?"

"They must have all fallen into the enemy's hands, mother. How badeverything must be! But pray, pray, go on. What does he say?"

Lady Royland read on in silence for a few moments, and, as she read, thepallor in her face gave way to a warm flush of excitement, while Roy, inspite of his eagerness to hear more, could not help wondering at thefirmness and decision his mother displayed, an aspect which wassupported by her words as she turned to her son. 

"Roy, " she cried, "I was obliged to read first, but you shall knoweverything. While we have been here in peace, it seems that a terriblerevolution has broken out, and your father says that it will only be bydesperate efforts on the part of his friends that the king's positioncan be preserved. He says that these efforts will be made, and that theking shall be saved. "

"Hurrah!" shouted the boy, wildly. "God save the king!"

"God save the king!" murmured Lady Royland, softly, with her eyesclosed; and her words sounded like a prayerful echo of her son'sutterance. 

There was a pause for a few moments, and then Lady Royland went on. 

"Your father says that we lie right out of the track of the troublehere, and that he prays that nothing may disturb us; but as the countrygrows more unsettled with the war, evil men will arise everywhere, readyto treat the laws of the country with contempt, and that it is our dutyin his absence to be prepared. "

"Prepared! Yes, mother, " cried Roy, excitedly; and he flung himselfupon his knees, rested his elbows on his mother's lap, and seized herhands. "Go on, go on!"

"He says that you have grown a great fellow now, and that the time hascome for you to play the man, and fill his place in helping me in everyway possible. "

"Father says that, mother?" cried the boy, flushing scarlet. 

"Yes; and that he looks to you to be my counsellor, and, with the helpof his faithful old servant Martlet, to do everything you can to put theplace in a state of defence. "

"Why, mother, " said Roy, "old Ben will go mad with delight. "

Lady Royland suppressed a sigh, and went on firmly. 

"He bids me use my discretion to decide whom among the tenants andpeople of the village I can--we can--trust, Roy, and to call upon themto be ready, in case of an emergency, to come in here and help toprotect the place and their own belongings; but to be very careful whomI do trust, for an enemy within the gates is a terrible danger. "

"Yes, of course, " cried Roy, whose head seemed once more in a whirl. 

"He goes on to say that there may not be the slightest necessity for allthis, but the very fact of our being prepared will overawe people whomight be likely to prove disaffected, and will keep wandering bands ofmarauders at a distance. "

"Of course--yes; I see, " cried Roy, eagerly. "Yes, mother, I'll go towork at once. "

"You will do nothing foolish, I know, my boy, " said the mother, layingone hand upon his head and gazing proudly in his eyes. 

"Nothing if I can help it, " he cried; "and I'll consult you ineverything, but--but--"

"Yes, my boy, speak out. "

"I don't want to hurt your feelings, dear, and yet if I speak of a swordor a gun--"

Lady Royland shivered slightly, but she drew a long, deep breath, andraised herself up proudly. 

"Roy, " she said, "that was in times of peace, before this terribleemergency had arisen. As a woman, I shrink from bloodshed andeverything that suggests it. It has been my constant dread that you, myboy, should follow your father's profession. `My boy a soldier!' Isaid, as I lay sleepless of a night, and I felt that I could not bearthe thought. But Heaven's will be done, my son. The time has come whenmy weak, womanly fears must be crushed down, and I must fulfil my dutyas your dear father's wife. We cannot question his wisdom. A terriblecrisis has come upon our land, and we must protect ourselves and thosewho will look to us for help. Then, too, your father calls upon us totry to save his estate here from pillage and the ruthless wrecking ofwicked men. Roy, my boy, I hope I shall not be such a weak woman now, but your help and strengthener, as you will be mine. You will not hurtmy feelings, dear, in what you do. You see, " she continued, smiling, asshe laid her hand upon the hilt of the sword the lad had so hastilybuckled on, "I do not wince and shudder now. Fate has decided upon yourcareer, Roy, young as you are, and I know that my son's sword, like hisfather's, will never be drawn unless it is to protect the weak andmaintain the right. "

"Never, mother, " cried the boy, enthusiastically; and as Lady Roylandtried to raise him, he sprang to his feet. "Oh, " he cried, "I wish Iwere not such a boy!"

"I do not, " said his mother, smiling. "You are young, and I am only awoman, but our cause will make us strong, Roy. There, " she continued, embracing him lovingly, "the time has come to act. You will consultwith Martlet what to do about the defences at once, while I write backto your father. When do you think the men will be fit to go back?"

"They'd go to-night, mother; they seem to be just the fellows; but theirhorses want two or three days' rest. "

"Roy!"

"Yes, mother. It's a long journey, and they'll have to go byout-of-the-way roads to avoid attack. "

"But we have horses. "

"Yes, mother, but they would sooner trust their own. "

Lady Royland bowed her head. 

"The letters must go back by them, " she said, "and they must start atthe earliest minute they can. But there is another thing. It is rightthat Master Pawson should be taken into our counsels. "

"Master Pawson, mother?"

"Yes, my boy. He is your father's trusted servant, and I must notslight any friends. Go and ask him to come here. "

"Can't, " said Roy, shortly. "He went out this morning, and said hedidn't think he would be back to dinner. "

"Indeed!"

"Gone over to see the vicar. "

"Gone to Mr Meldew, " said Lady Royland, whose face looked very grave. "Then it must be deferred till his return. Now, Roy, what will you dofirst?"

"See to the gates, mother, and that no one goes out or comes in withoutleave. "

"Quite right, Captain Roy, " said Lady Royland, smiling. 

The boy looked at her wonderingly. 

"My heart is more at rest, dear, " she said, gently, "and that achinganxiety is at an end. Roy, we know the worst, and we must act for thebest. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

BEN MEANS BUSINESS. 

With his blood seeming to effervesce in his veins from the excitement hefelt, Roy placed the writing-materials in front of his mother and thenhurried out, crossed the drawbridge, and made for the little gate tower, where, upon hearing steps, the old retainer came out, bent of head andstooping, with one ear raised. 

"Master Roy's step, " he said; and as the boy came closer: "Yes, it'syou, sir; just like your father's step, sir, only younger. What's thenews, Master Roy?"

"Bad, Jenk, --civil war has broken out. Father is well and with hisregiment, but there is great trouble in the land. I'm going to put thecastle in a state of defence. Shut the gate again and keep it close. No one is to come in or out without an order from my mother or from me. "

"That's right, Master Roy, sir; that's right, " piped the retainer. "I'll just buckle on my sword at once. She's as sharp and bright asever she was. Nobody shall go by. So there's to be a bit of a war, isthere?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so, Jenk. "

"Don't say afraid so, Master Roy; sounds as if you would be skeart, andyour father's son couldn't be that. But nobody goes by here withoutyour orders, sir, or my lady's, and so I tell 'em. I'm getting on a bitin years, and I can't see quite as well as I should do, not like I used;but it's the sperrit as does it, Master Roy. "

"So it is, Jenk; and you've got plenty in you, haven't you?"

"Ay, ay, ay, Master Roy, " quavered the old man, "plenty. Up at thehouse there they get talking about me as if I was so very old; but I'lllet some of 'em see. Why, I want five year o' being a hundred yet, andlook at what they used to be in the Scripter. I'll keep the gate fast, sir--I did this morning, didn't I, when they three dragoons come up?"

"Yes, capitally, Jenk--but I must go. I'm busy. "

"That's right, sir--you go. Don't you be uneasy about the gate, sir. I'll see to that. "

"Yes, " said Roy to himself, "it is the spirit that does it. Now Iwonder whether I've got spirit enough to do all the work before me!"

He hurried back over the drawbridge, and glanced down into the clearmoat where he could see the great pike lying, but he did not stop tothink about catching it, for he hurried on to the servants' hall, drawing himself up as he felt the importance of his position, and uponentering, the three troopers, who were seated at a good substantialmeal, all rose and saluted their colonel's son. 

"Got all you want, men?" said Roy, startling himself by his decisive wayof speaking. 

"Yes, sir; plenty, sir, " said the man who bore the despatch. "MasterMartlet saw to that. "

"That's right. Now, look here, of course we want you and your horses tohave a good rest, but when do you think you'll be ready to take adespatch back?"

"Take a despatch back, sir?" said the man, staring. "We're not to takeanything back. "

"Yes; a letter to my father. "

"No, sir. Colonel Sir Granby Royland's, orders were that we were tostop here and to help take care of the castle. "

"Were those my father's commands?" cried Roy, eagerly. 

"Yes, sir, to all three of us--all five of us, it were, and I'm sorry Icouldn't bring the other two with me; but I did my best, didn't I, lads?"

"Ay, corporal, " chorused the others. 

"Oh, that's capital!" cried Roy, eagerly. "It relieves me of a gooddeal of anxiety. But my father--he'll expect a letter back. "

"No, sir; he said there was no knowing where he would be with theregiment, and we were to stay here till he sent orders for us torejoin. "

"Where is Martlet?" asked Roy then. 

"Said something about an armoury, " replied the corporal. 

Roy hurried off, and in a few minutes found the old soldier busy with abottle of oil and a goose feather, applying the oil to the mechanism ofa row of firelocks. 

"Oh, here you are, Ben, " cried Roy, excitedly. "News for you, man. "

"Ay, ay, sir, I've heard, " said the old soldier, sadly. "More rust. "

"Yes, for you to keep off. My father's orders are that the castle is tobe put in a state of defence directly. "

Down went the bottle on the floor, and the oil began to trickle out. 

"But--but, " stammered the old fellow, "what does her ladyship say?"

"That she trusts to my father's faithful old follower to work with me, and do everything possible for the defence of the place. Hurrah, Ben!God save the king!"

"Hurrah! God save the king!" roared Ben; and running to the wall hesnatched a sword from where it hung, drew it, and waved it round hishead. "Hah! Master Roy, you've made me feel ten years younger withthose few words. "

"Have I, Ben? Why, somehow all this has made me feel ten years older. "

"Then you've got a bit off me that I had to spare, Master Roy, and goodluck to you with it. Then, " he continued, after listening with eagerattention to Roy's rendering of his father's orders, "we must go to workat once, sir. "

"Yes; at once, Ben. "

"Then the first thing is to order the gate to be kept shut, and that noone goes out or in unless he has a pass from her ladyship or from you. "

"Done, Ben. I have been to old Jenk, and he has shut the gate, andbuckled on his old sword. "

"Hah! hum! yes, " said the old soldier, rubbing one of his ears; "thatsounds very nice, Master Roy, but, " he continued, with a look ofperplexity, "it doesn't mean much, now, does it?"

"I don't understand you. "

"Why, sir, I mean this: that if any one came up to the gate and wantedto come in--`Give the pass, ' says Jenk. `Haven't got one, ' says whoeverit is. `Can't pass, then, ' says Jenk, and then--"

"Well, yes, and then?" said Roy. "Why, sir, if he took a good deepbreath, and then gave a puff, he'd blow poor old Jenk into the moat. He's a good old boy, and I don't want to hurt his feelings, but we can'tleave things at the gate like that. "

"But it would break his heart to be told he is--he--"

"Too rusty to go on, sir, " said Ben, grimly. "But it would break herladyship's heart if we didn't do our duty, and we shan't be doing thatif we leave our outwork in the hands of poor old Jenk. "

"What's to be done?"

"I know, sir. Tell him the gate's very important, and that he must havetwo men with him, and let him suppose they're under his command. "

"That's it, capital!" cried Roy. "Then we must place two men there withhim at once. "

"Ye-e-es, sir, " said Ben, drily. "But who are we to place there--ourselves?"

Roy looked hard at Ben, and Ben looked hard at Roy. 

"You see, sir, we've got the castle and the weepuns, but we've nogarrison. That's the first thing to see to. Why, when those threetroopers have gone back with their despatch, we shall have as good asnobody. "

"But they're not going back, Ben. Father's orders are that they're tostay. "

"Three trained soldiers, sir, to start with!" cried Ben. "Me four, andyou five. Why, that's just like five seeds out of which we can grow alittle army. "

"Then there are the men-servants. "

"Well, sir, they're more used to washing cups and cleaning knives, andplate, and horses; but we shall have to lick 'em into shape. Let's see, there's the three men indoors, the groom, and coachman, that makes fivemore. "

"And the two gardeners. "

"Of course, sir! Why, they'll make the best of 'em all. Twelve of us. "

"And Master Pawson, thirteen. "

"P'ff! him!" cried Ben, with a look of contempt. "What's he going todo? Read to the sentries, sir, to keep 'em from going to sleep?"

"Oh, he'll be of some use, Ben. We mustn't despise any one. "

"Right, sir; we mustn't: so as soon as he comes back--he's gone over toParson Meldew's--"

"Yes, I know. "

"You tell him to get to his books and read all he can about sword andpike wounds, and how to take a bullet out of a man when he gets hit. Then he can cut up bandages, and get ready knives and scissors andthread and big needles. "

"Do you mean in case of wounds, Ben?"

"Why, of course, sir. "

"But do you think it likely that we shall have some--"

"Rather queer sort of siege if we don't have some damage done, sir. Well, that settles about Master Pawson. Now, what next?"

"The men at the farm, Ben. "

"Yes, sir; we ought to get about ten or a dozen. They're good stoutlads. We must have them up at once and do a bit of drilling. Theyneedn't stay here yet, but they can be got in order and ready to come inat a moment's notice. Next?"

"All the tenants must be seen, Ben. They'll all come too, and drillready for service if wanted. "

"And that means about another twenty, I suppose, sir. "

"Yes, or more, Ben. "

"If they're staunch, sir. "

"Ah, but they would be. My father's own tenants!"

"I dunno, sir. If times are going to be like we hear, you'll findpeople pretty ready to go over to the strongest side. "

"Oh, nonsense! There isn't a man round here who wouldn't shout for theking. "

"Quite right, sir, " said Ben. "I believe that. "

"Then why do you throw out such nasty hints?"

"'Cause I've got my doubts, sir. Lots on 'em'll shout for the king, butif it comes to the pinch and things are going wrong, I want to know howmany will fight for the king. "

"Every true man, Ben. "

"Azackly, sir; but, you see, there's a orful lot o' liars in the world. But we shall see. "

"Well, we've got to keep the castle, Ben. "

"We have, sir, and keep it we will, till everybody's about wounded ordead, and the enemy comes swarming and cheering in, and then they shan'thave it. "

"Why, they'll have got it, Ben, " said Roy, laughing, but ratheruncomfortably, for the man's words as to the future did not soundpleasant. 

"Ay, and I shall take it away from 'em, sir; for if the worst comes tothe worst, I shall have made all my plans before, and I'll do a bit o'Guy Fawkesing. "

"What do you mean?"

"Why, I should ha' thought you'd ha' understood that, sir. "

"Of course I do; but how could you blow up the castle?"

"By laying a train to the powder-magazine, knocking the heads out of acouple o' kegs, and then up it goes. "

"Powder--magazine--kegs?" cried Roy. "Why, we haven't one, and I wantedto talk to you about getting some. How's it to be done?"

"By going to your father's lib'ry, sir, and opening the little drawer ashe keeps locked up in the big oak table. There's the keys there. "

"Yes, of the wine-cellars, Ben; but no--Oh, absurd!"

"Is it, my lad? I think not. Think it's likely as your grandfather andhis father would have had swords and pikes and armour, and big guns andlittle guns, and not had no powder to load 'em with?"

"Well, it doesn't sound likely, Ben; but I'm sure we have none here. "

"Well, sir, begging your pardon for contradicting my master, I'm sure aswe have. "

"Down in the cellars?"

"Down in one of 'em, sir. "

"But I never knew. "

"Perhaps not, sir; but I've been down there with your father, and Idon't suppose it's a thing he'd talk about. Anyhow, there it is, shutup behind three doors, and I'll be bound to say dry as a bone. It'svery old, but good enough, may be. All the same, though, Master Roy, the sooner we try what it's like the better, and if you'll take myadvice you'll have one of the big guns loaded and fired with a goodround charge. That'll try the gun, scale it out, and give 'em a hintfor miles round that, though Sir Granby's gone to the wars, his son's athome, and his dame too, and that they don't mean to stand any nonsensefrom a set o' crop-eared rascals. That'll do more good, Master Roy, than a deal o' talking, and be less trouble. "

"We must do it at once, Ben, " said Roy, decidedly. 

"The first thing, sir; and, by the way, as we're going to begin to getour garrison together, it'll be as well to make a little show. If I wasyou, I'd put on a pair of buff boots, wear a sword and a sash always, and I don't say put on a lot of armour, but if you'll let me, I'll takethe gorget off that suit of Italian armour, and you can wear that. "

"But it will look so--" said Roy, flushing. 

"Yes, sir; but we've got to look so, " said the old soldier, decidedly. "It makes people respect you; and if you'll be good enough to give me myorders, I'll take to a buff coat and steel cap at once. "

"Very well, do so, " said Roy. "But I will not promise to make any showmyself. "

"But you must, sir, please, for her ladyship's sake. Look here, MasterRoy, you'll be calling the tenants and labourers together, and you'llhave to make them a speech. "

"Shall I?" said Roy, nervously. 

"Why, of course, sir, telling 'em what their duty is, and calling upon'em to fight for their king, their country, and their homes. Yes, that's it, sir; that's just what you've got to say. "

"Well, Ben, if I must, I must. "

"Then must it is, sir; but if they come here to the castle, and you'relike you are now, they'll be only half warmed up, and say that MasterRoy can talk, and some of 'em'll sneer and snigger; but if you come outwhen they're all here, looking like your father's son in a cavalier hatand feathers, with the gorget on, and the king's colours for a sash, ay, and buff boots and spurs--"

"Oh, no, not spurs when I'm walking, " protested Roy. 

"Yes, sir, spurs, --a big pair with gilt rowels, as'll _clink-clink_ withevery step you take; they'll set up a cheer, and swear to fight for you, when you've done, to the death. And look here, Master Roy, when you'vedone speaking, you just wave your hat, and chuck it up in the air, as iffine felts and ostridge feathers weren't nothing to you, who called upon'em all to fight for the king. "

Roy drew a deep sigh, for his follower's words had nearly made himbreathless. 

"We shall see, " he sighed. 

"Yes, sir, we shall see, " cried Ben. "So now, if you please, sir, Iwon't wait to be getting into my buff jerkin now, but I'll take yourorders for what we're to do first. "

"Yes, Ben; what ought we to do first?"

"Well, sir, it's you as know. You said something about strengtheningthe guard at the gate. "

"Oh, but I say, Ben, that was you said so. "

"Only as your mouthpiece, sir. "

"But it sounds silly to talk about strengthening the guard at the gatewhen we've only got old Jenk, and no regular sentry to put there. "

"Never you mind about how it sounds, sir, so long as it's sense, " criedBen, striking his fist into his left palm. "We've got to make ourgarrison and our sentries out of the raw stuff, and the sooner we beginto sound silly now the better. It won't be silly for any one who comesand finds a staunch man there, who would sooner send a musketoon bulletthrough him than let him pass. "

"No, Ben, it will not, certainly. Whom shall I send?"

"Well, sir, if I was you, I'd do it as I meant to go on. You give me myorders, and I'll go and enlist Sam Rogers in the stable at once, bringhim here fierce-like into the armoury; put him on a buff coat, buckle ona sword, and give him his bandoleer and firelock, and march him downwith sword drawn to relieve guard with old Jenk. "

"But he'll be cleaning the troopers' horses, and begin to laugh. "

"Sam Rogers, sir? Not him. He'll come like a lamb; and when I marcheshim down to the gate, he'll go out like a lion, holding his head up withthe steel cap on, and be hoping that all the servant-girls and the cookare watching him. Don't you be afraid of him laughing. All I'm afraidof is, that while he's so fresh he'll be playing up some games with hisfirelock, and mocking poor old Jenk. "

"Pray, warn him, then. "

"You trust me, sir. Then, when that's done, perhaps you'll give theorders to find quarters for our new men, and tell 'em that they're torest till to-morrow by your orders; and after that there's thedrawbridge and portcullis. "

"Yes; what about them?"

"Why, sir, you know how they've been for years. You must have 'em seento at once; and, if I was you, I'd have the portcullis seen to first, and the little sally-port door in the corner of the tower. We shallwant half a dozen men. I'm a bit afraid of the old bars and rollers, but we shall see. "

"Order the men to come, then, when you've done, and let us see, and geteverything right as soon as possible. "

Ben saluted in military fashion, and marched off to the hall, where Royheard him speak in a cheering, authoritative voice to the new-comers, and then came out to march across to the stables, which were in thebasement of the east side of the castle, with their entrance between thebuilding and the court; but the gate-way that had opened into thecourt-yard had been partly closed up when that was turned into aflower-garden, and the archway was now covered with ivy. 

Roy went up to one of the corridors beneath the ramparts, and watched, out of curiosity, to see how the groom would take his new orders. 

He was not long kept in suspense, for the sturdy young fellow came outtalking eagerly with Ben and turning down his sleeves. Then they wentinside, through the great gate-way to the armoury, and in an incrediblyshort space of time came out together, the groom in steel jockey-shapedcap with a spike on the top, buff coat, sword, and bandoleer, andshouldering the clumsy firelock of the period. 

As they reached the archway, Ben stopped short, drew his sword, said afew words in a sharp tone, and marched off, with Sam Rogers keepingstep; while a muttering of voices told of how strangely matters hadturned out according to old Ben's prophecy, for, on turning to see whatit meant, Roy saw down through one of the narrow windows that the wholeof the household had turned out to do likewise. But there was nogiggling and laughing, for the women seemed to be impressed, and themen-servants were shaking their heads and talking together earnestlyabout the evil times that had come. 

Another sound made Roy turn sharply in the other direction to see hismother approaching. 

"Then you have begun, my son, " she said, gravely. 

"Yes, mother. The sentry was set, after a long talk with Martlet. "

"You need not speak in that apologetic tone, my boy, " said Lady Royland, quietly. "I see the necessity, and I am sure you are doing well. Now, come and tell me more of your plans. "

She led the way to the library, and as they entered Roy glanced towardsthe big oak table standing at one end; his eyes fixed themselves uponthe small drawer, and he seemed to see a rusty old key lying there, onewhose wards were shaping themselves plainly before his eyes, as he toldof his arrangements with the old soldier. 

"Yes, you have begun well, Roy, " said Lady Royland at last. "And whatMartlet says is quite true. "

"But you would not dress up as he advises, mother?" protested Roy, rather bashfully. 

"Dress up? No, my boy; but I would put on such things as a cavalier andan officer would wear under such circumstances, --a gorget, sword, boots, hat and feathers, and the king's colours as a scarf. Why, Roy, yourfather would wear those in addition to his scarlet coat. "

"Yes, mother; but he is a soldier. "

"So are you now, Roy, " said the dame, proudly. "And so must every manbe who loves his king and country. Martlet is quite right, and I shallprepare your scarf and feathers with my own hands. "

"Why, mother, " cried the boy, wonderingly, "how you have changed sinceeven a short time ago. "

"So has our position, Roy, my son, " she said, firmly. "Who's there?"

The butler entered. 

"Benjamin Martlet would be glad, my lady, if Master Roy would come andgive him his instructions, and, if you please, my lady, he wishes me tohelp. "

"And you will, I am sure, Grey?"

"Oh, yes, my lady, " said the man, eagerly; "but I was afraid yourladyship might be wanting something, and no one to answer the bell. "

"I want my servants, Grey, to help me to protect their master'sinterests while he is forced to be away in the service of the king. CanI count upon that help?"

"Yes, my lady, to a man, " cried the old servant, eagerly. 

"I thought so, " said Lady Royland, smiling proudly. "You will go, then, Roy, and see what Martlet is to do. "

Roy was already at the door, and five minutes later he was standing inthe gate-way with every man employed about the place, the three troopersbeing fast asleep, exhausted by their long journey down from town. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

PORTCULLIS AND BRIDGE. 

As Roy appeared, there was a low buzz of voices, and directly after thebutler cried, "Three cheers for the young master!" with a hearty result. 

Just then Ben came close up to say, confidentially--

"I made it all comfortable with poor old Jenk, sir. "

"That's right; and Sam Rogers?"

"Proud's a dog with two tails, sir. Now, sir, if you'll give theorders, we'll go up and see what can be done about making the placesafe, and I'm afraid we're going to have a job. "

Roy felt a slight sensation of shrinking, but he mastered it, andcalling to the men to follow him, he turned in by the low archeddoor-way, and ascended to the first chamber of the gate tower, to pausewhere the great iron grating hung before him in its stone grooves formedin the wall, and with its spikes descending through the slit on thefloor, below which the stone paving of the entrance could be seen. 

To make sure of its not descending by any accident of the chains giving, three massive pieces of squared oak had been thrust through as many ofthe openings at the bottom, so that the portcullis rested upon them asthese crossed the long narrow slit through which it descended, and alittle examination showed that if the chains were tightened by turningthe two capstans by means of the bars, and the chains drawn a littleover the great wheels fixed in the ceiling, it would be easy enough towithdraw the three supports and let the grating down. 

"Chains look terribly rusty, " said Roy. "Think they'll bear it, Ben?"

"They're rusty, sir, and a good deal eaten away; but they used to putgood work into these sort o' things, because if they hadn't, they'd havecome down and killed some one. Shall we try?"

"Yes; no one can be hurt if a watch is kept below. Go down, one of you, and see that no one passes under. "

One of the men ran down, the old capstan-bars were taken from thecorners, and two men on each side inserted them into the holes, andwaited for the order to tighten the chains round the rollers. 

"Ready? All together!" cried Roy; and the men pulled the bars towardsthem with a will, the chains tightened, the pulleys creaked and groaned, and the grating rose an inch or two, sufficient for the pieces of oakcrossing the narrow slit to have been drawn out, when _crack_--_crack_--two of the bars the men handled snapped short off, and their holdersfell, while the portcullis sank back to its old place with a heavy jar. 

"Hundred years, perhaps, since they've been used, " said Roy. "Any onehurt?"

"No, sir, " said the men, laughing in spite of a bruise or two; and thebars being examined, it was found that the tough oak of which they werecomposed was completely honeycombed by worms, and powdered away to dust. 

"First job, then, sir, to make new bars, " said Ben, promptly. 

"Yes; we'll have the carpenters in from the village directly, Ben. Withthese pulleys well greased, I suppose this will work. "

"Ay, sir, no doubt about that; it's the drawbridge I'm afraid of, " saidBen. 

"Let's go up and see, then. "

Roy led the way again, and the men followed into the dark chamber above, where the old furnace stood, and in the corners on either side of thenarrow window, with its hollowed-out notches for firing or usingcross-bows from, were two great round chimney-like constructions builtin the stone, up and down which huge weights, which depended frommassive chains and passed over great rollers, had formerly been used toglide. 

Ben shook his head as he put his hand upon one of the weights, whichwere formed of so many discs of cast lead, through the centre of whichthe great chain passed, a solid bar of iron being driven through a linkbelow to keep them from sliding off. 

The weights hung about breast-high; and at the slight pressure of theman's hand began to swing to and fro in the stone place open to thechamber, but closed below where they ran down in the wall at the sidesof the gate-way. 

"Well, these must have been worked by hand, Ben, " said Roy. "Men musthave stood here and run them down. Two of you go to the other side, andall press down together, but stand ready to jump back in case anythingbreaks. I don't see how you can be hurt if you do. "

"No, sir; no one can't be hurt, for the weights will only go down theseholes with a bang. "

"Try, then. Now, all together--pull!"

The men tugged and strained, but there was no sign of yielding, and Benshook his head. 

"Rollers must be rusted, sir, and stick. "

But upon his climbing up to examine them, it proved that these had notbeen made to turn, only for the chains to slide over them, as thegrooves worn in the iron showed. 

"Nothing to stop 'em here, sir, " said the man. 

"Then it must be set fast at the end of the bridge, " said Roy; and, descending with the men, they crossed the moat and found the bridgecompletely wedged and fixed in the opening of stone which embraced theend. 

Picks and crowbars were fetched, the stones and sand scraped out, andwhen the place was cleared they reascended to the furnace-chamber, when, upon another trial being made, it was found that the weights soaccurately balanced the bridge that with very little exertion the chainscame screeching and groaning over the iron rollers, and the men gave acheer as the end rose up and up till it was drawn very nearly up to theface of the tower. 

Ben rubbed his ear and grinned with satisfaction. 

"Come, sir, " he said, "we can make ourselves pretty safe that way; butI'm afraid the moat's so filled up that a man can wade across. "

"That he can't, " cried one of the gardeners. "I've plumbed it all over, and there aren't a place less nor seven or eight feet deep, withoutcounting the mud. "

"Then you've been fishing!" thought Roy, but he did not say so, onlygave orders for the bridge to be lowered again, and sent a man for asupply of grease to well lubricate the rollers and chains. 

Down went the bridge, in a most unmusical way, and as soon as it was inits place once more, a man was sent across for the village carpenter tocome with his tools, there being plenty of good seasoned oak-wood storedup in the buildings. 

Then a consultation ensued. They had the means of cutting themselvesoff from the outer world, and in a short time the portcullis would addto the strength of their defences. 

"What's next, Ben?" said Roy. 

"I'm a-thinking, sir. We've done a lot already, but there's so muchmore to do that things get a bit jumbled like in my head. We've got toget our garrison, and then there's two very important things--wittlesand water!"

"The well supplies that last, " said Roy; "and if we were running short, we could use the water from the moat for everything but food. "

"Yes, sir, that's good. Cart must go to the mill, and bring all thecorn and flour that can be got. Then we must have some beasts and sheepfrom the farm. "

"That's bad, " said Roy, "because they'll want feeding. "

"Have to be driven out every morning, sir, till we're besieged. Musthave some cows in too, so that if we are beset we can be independent. But first of all, sir, we ought to see to the powder and the guns. Butyou and me must see to the powder ourselves. We shall want some helpover the guns, and I'm thinking as you'd best make that carpenter stay. The wheels are off one or two of the gun-carriages, and there's norammers or sponges; and I shouldn't wonder if the carriages as I paintedover and pitched are only so many worm-eaten shells. "

"Well, all these things will have to be got over by degrees, Ben. Wehave done the first great things towards making the castle safe, and anenemy need not know how unprepared we are. "

"I don't know so much about being safe, sir. "

"What, not with the drawbridge up?"

"No, sir, " said Ben, in a low tone. "But suppose you sends the men todinner now, and orders 'em to meet in a hour's time in the court-yard--oh dear, oh dear! that's all garden now. "

"You can make room for the men to meet without disturbing the garden, "said Roy, sharply. 

"Very well, sir; you're master. Will you give your orders?"

Roy gave them promptly, and the men walked away. 

"Now, then, " said Roy, "what did you mean about the place not beingsafe? With the bridge up, they could only cross to us by rafts orboats, and then they couldn't get in. "

"Well, sir, it's like this. I've heard tell, though I'd forgotten allabout it till just now, as there's a sort o' passage goes out from thedungeons under the nor'-west tower over to the little ruins on the hillover yonder. "

"Impossible! Why, it would have to be half a mile long, Ben. "

"All that, sir. "

"But it couldn't go under the moat. It would be full of water. "

"Nay, not if it was made tight, sir. "

"But what makes you say that? You've never seen the passage?"

"No, sir, I've never been down, but your father once said somethingabout it. It was a long time before that tower was done up and maderight for Master Pawson. I don't recollect much about it, but I supposeit must be there. "

"That's another thing to see to, then, " said Roy. "Because, if it doesexist, and the enemy heard of it, he might come in and surprise us. Iknow; we'll find it, and block it up. "

"Nay, I wouldn't do that, sir. It might be that we should have to goaway, and it isn't a bad thing to have a way out in case of danger. "

"Not likely to do that, Ben, " said Roy, haughtily. "We are going tohold the place. "

"Yes, sir, as long as we can; but we can't do impossibilities. Now, sir, will you go and have your bit o' dinner, while I have mine?"

"Oh, I don't feel as if I could eat, Ben; I'm too full of excitement. "

"More reason why you should go and have your dinner, sir. Man can'tfight without he eats and drinks. "

"Nor a boy, neither--eh, Ben?"

"That's so, sir; only I wouldn't be talking before the men about beingonly a boy. You leave them to say it if they like. But they won't;they'll judge you by what you do, sir; and if you act like a man, they'll look at you as being the one in command of them, and behave likeit. "

"Very well, I'll go to dinner, and in an hour meet you here. "

"Fifty minutes, sir. It's a good ten minutes since the men went in. "

Roy joined his mother, feeling, as he said, too full of excitement toeat; but he found the meal ready, with one of the maids in attendance, and everything so calm and quiet, that, as they sat chatting, it seemedas if all this excitement were as unsubstantial as the distant rumoursof war; while, when the meal was at an end, his mother's words tended tolend some of her calm to his excited brain. 

"I have been hearing of all that you have done, Roy, " she said. "It isexcellent; but do not hurry. I cannot afford to have you ill. "

That was a fresh idea, and the consequences of such a trouble toohorrible to be contemplated; but it made Roy determine to take thingsmore coolly, and in this spirit he went to where the servants wereassembled in the gate-way, and joined his trusty lieutenant, who hadjust drawn them up in line. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

ROY VISITS THE POWDER-MAGAZINE. 

"Now, Ben, what next?"

"The thing I've been thinking, sir, is that, little as it be, we mustmake the most of our garrison. It's war time now, and if you'll givethe order I'll march the men to the armoury and serve out the weepunsand clothes. "

Roy nodded, gave the word for the men to march, counter-ordered it, at ahint from Ben, and then, telling them to face right, put himself attheir head, and marched them to the long, low room at once. 

Ben began to serve out the buff jerkins and steel caps. 

"Can't stop for no trying on now, " he said; "you must do as we used inthe army, --change about till you get them as fits you. "

This done, the firelocks and bandoleers followed, and, lastly, to eachman a belt and sword. 

And all the time the old soldier handed every article to the recipientwith a grave dignity and a solemnity of manner which seemed to say, "Iam giving treasures to you that I part from with the greatest regret, "and he finished with--

"Now, my lads, look here: it's a great honour to bear arms in theservice of your king, and if you're carrying Sir Granby Royland's armsyou're carrying the king's, so take care of 'em. A good soldierwouldn't have a speck of rust on his helmet or his sword; they're asbright as I can make 'em now, and as sharp, so mind they're always so. Now go to your new quarters and put 'em on--proper, mind; and yourmaster, the captain here, will have a parade in an hour's time. "

The men went off, leaving Roy wondering at the calmness with which hestood by listening while old Ben talked to the men and kept on referringto him as "your master. "

Ben now turned to him. "What do you say, sir?" he said. "Don't youthink we had better go down and see if all's right in thepowder-magazine?"

"But it's in the cellar, Ben, and you'd want a light. "

"Hardly fair, sir, to call it the cellar. I believe it's one of the olddungeons where they used to shut people up in the good old times. "

"That would be darker still, Ben. How are we to see?"

"Have to feel, sir; for I don't fancy taking down a lantern. Once weget there and the place open, we can go round and tell with our handshow many kegs there are on the shelves, and then if we bring one out andtry it, and it turns out all right, we shall know we're safe. "

"Very well: it isn't a nice job; but, if it has to be done, we'd betterget it over. "

"As you say, sir, it aren't a nice job; but, if we're very careful, Idon't see as we can come to much harm; so, if you'll get the keys, sir, we'll go at once. "

Roy nodded, and went in without a word, to find his mother seated in thelibrary writing. 

"What is it, my boy?" she said. "What do you want?"

Roy hesitated for a moment, and then said, rather huskily, "The keys. Ben and I are going down into the magazine. "

Lady Royland looked at him in a wondering way. 

"The magazine? Do you mean the store-room?"

"No; the powder-magazine. "

She started now, and looked anxious. 

"I had almost forgotten its existence, Roy. But is it necessary? Itmay be dangerous to go into such a place. "

"We shall take care, mother, and have no light. It is necessary, Bensays, for we must be provided with gunpowder, and he wants to trywhether it is good, because it must be very old. "

"Very old, my boy. Probably older than your grandfather's day. Ihardly like you to go upon such an errand. "

"But if I'm to be captain, mother, and look after the place, I can't goback and tell Ben that. It would look so weak. "

"Yes, yes, of course, " said Lady Royland, making an effort to be calmand firm. "But you will be very careful, Roy. "

"You may trust me, mother, " he said; and she drew the keys, with a sigh, from the drawer in the old table, and handed them to her son, who tookthem and returned to his lieutenant. 

"Here they are, Ben, " said Roy, quietly. "Ready?"

"Yes, sir, I'm ready. I want to be satisfied about that powder, becauseit means so much to us, for I'm sure I don't know how we could get anymore in times like these. You might send an order to London or one ofthe places in Kent where they make it, but I should never expect to seeit come down here. Well, we won't waste time; so come along. "

Taking off his sword, and signing to Roy to do the same, he led the wayto the flight of spiral steps in the base of the south-east tower, but, instead of going up, followed it down to where there was a low archeddoor on their left and an opening on their right. 

"Long time since any one's been in that old dungeon, Master Roy. Hundred years, I dare say. Maybe we shall be putting some one in, oneof these days!"

"In there? Whom? What for?"

"Prisoners, sir, for fighting against the king. " The old fellowlaughed, and went along through the opening on their right, which provedto be an arched passage very dimly lit by a series of little pipe-likeholes sloping inward through the outer wall of the castle and openingabout a foot above the moat. On their aft were doors of a row ofcellars built beneath the old court-yard; and as Ben walked onward hesaid--

"Who'd think as there were green grass and flower-beds up above them, Master Roy? But we do see changes in this life. Halt! here we are. "

He stopped at the end of the passage, where there was a massive oakdoor-way facing them beneath a curious old Norman arch, and, aftertrying hard with three different keys, the rusty wards of the old lockallowed one to turn, and the door was pushed wide open, creaking backagainst the wall. 

"Rather dark, sir, " said Ben. "Get on a deal better with a candle; butit wouldn't do. "

Roy peered in, and, as his eyes grew more accustomed to the obscurity, he made out that he was gazing into a small stone chamber; but there wasno sign of chest or keg, or door leading onward. 

"Why, the place is empty, Ben, " said the boy, with a sigh of relief. 

"We don't know that yet, sir, because we haven't seen it, " said Ben, quietly. "This is only the way to the magazine. People in the old daysknew what dangerous tackle it was, and took care of it according. Butit's going to be a dark job, and no mistake. "

The old soldier stepped in, and, stooping down in the middle of theblank stone chamber, took hold of a large copper ring and drew up oneside of a heavy flagstone, which turned silently upon copper pivots, andthis flag he laid back till it was supported by the ring. 

"Looks darker down there, sir, " said Ben, as Roy stood beside him andthey tried to pierce the gloom, but only for the latter to make out thedim outline of a stone step or two. 

"You've been down here before, of course?" whispered Roy, as if theplace impressed him. 

"Yes, sir; once. There's a door at the bottom, and that's the magazine. It will be all feeling, sir. Will you go back while I try and get akeg?"

"No, " said Roy, firmly, but with an intense desire to say yes. "I shallstay while you go down. There can be no danger if you have no light. "

"Unless the rusty key strikes a light, sir. "

"Oh, that's impossible, " whispered Roy. 

"I suppose I'd better pull off my boots before I go down; it'll perhapsbe safer. "

He seated himself on the floor and pulled them off, Roy standing up, leaning against the wall, and doing the same. 

"What's that for?" said Ben. 

"Coming with you. I want to know what the place is like. "

"Oh, there's no need for two of us to go, sir. One's enough. "

Roy said nothing, but followed the old fellow down eight stone steps, and then they stood together against a door, which felt to the touch tobe very strongly made of stone, while, after a little searching aboutfor a keyhole, Ben said, with a grunt--

"Forgot! There aren't no key to this. It's fastened with these twowooden bars. "

"I thought they were part of the door, Ben, " said Roy, in the samesuppressed tone. 

"So did I, sir, at first. I ought to have remembered, and I think I donow. Yes! that's the way; they turn on pins in the middle like woodenbuttons, and you turns one up and the other down out of the notches theyfit in, and then push the door, which has stone hinges. "

As he spoke, Ben turned the two great wooden bars, and then pressed uponthe door. 

"Hope the stones won't strike a light, sir, " said Ben, in a low growl. 

Roy felt as if a hand had suddenly compressed his heart, and he peeredwildly through the door-way, half expecting to see a tiny spark or two, as a dull, grating sound arose; but the only sparks the door made werethose glittering in his own eyes, and he drew a deeper, harder breath asthe door ceased to move. 

"Now, we've got to be careful, or we shall be hitting against oneanother, sir! Let me see: there's one step down, and then you're in aplace like a dairy, with two sets of stone shelves, --one just above thefloor, to keep it out of the damp; the other just about as high as aman's breast, --and there's kegs of powder piled-up on them all. Youstand still, and I'll go in. "

"No; let me, " said Roy, though why he said this puzzled the boy himself, when the exciting minutes had passed. 

"Well, sir, you're master, and if you'd rather, of course you can. ButI don't mind going if you like. "

"I'll go, " said Roy, huskily, and, stretching out his hands in the nowprofound darkness, he felt for and touched the side of the entrance, then made a step forward to place his stockinged foot down upon the coldstone floor, which struck up like ice. Bringing forward his secondfoot, he reached out for the side of the vault, and found the place justas his companion had described, for his hands came in contact with smallwooden barrels, neatly piled one upon the other on a great stone shelf, beneath which was another shelf laden in a similar way. 

"Feel anything, sir?" said Ben, from the entrance. 

"Yes: barrels, numbers of them, " said Roy, huskily, his voice sounding amere whisper in the darkness. "They go on--yes, to here. It is only asmall vault. "

"Yes, sir, but big enough. Try the other side now. "

Three steps took Roy there, and his hands touched barrels again piled-upin the same way, and he whispered his experience. 

"That's it, sir; just what I thought. But what we want to know now is, are they full? Would you mind lifting one, or shall I come and do it?"

Roy shuddered a little, but he did not shrink. Stretching out hishands, he took a careful hold of one of the kegs, raised it to find itfairly heavy, and then replaced it. 

"Try another, sir. "

Roy felt less compunction in lifting the second, and this beingreplaced, he began to sound others with his knuckles, to find that theyall gave forth the same dull dead note. 

"That's all we want to know down here, Master Roy, " said the old soldierat last; "and now I think we'd better get back and take a couple of thelittle kegs with us. I'd take one from each side, sir. You pass 'em tome and I'll carry 'em up safely. It wouldn't do to drop one in case itshould go off. "

These words, lightly spoken, made Roy thrill as he lifted down one ofthe kegs, getting his fingers tightly fitted to the ends, and then stoodthere in the black darkness, afraid to stir for fear he should strikehis elbow against anything and jerk the keg to the floor. 

"Got him, sir?"

"Yes, " said Roy, hoarsely. "Whereabouts are you?"

"Here, just at the door, sir; I haven't moved, " was the reply. 

"Reach out your hands, then, and take hold very carefully. Tell me whenyou've got it tight. "

"Tight hold, " said Ben, the next moment. 

"Sure?"

"Yes, sir; let it go, and I'll carry it up. "

Roy quitted his hold of the keg unwillingly, and his heart beatviolently as he listened to the soft _pat, pat_, of his companion'sfeet, and thought of the consequences of a fall. Possibly one vividflash and the whole place destroyed; and yet for years they had all beenliving so close to this terribly destructive power. 

"If Ben should drop that keg!"

But Ben only set it down quietly a short distance from the top of thesteps and descended. 

"T'other one, sir, please, " he said; and Roy placed this in the man'shands with the same shrinking feeling of reluctance. 

It was carried up, and Roy stepped out, drawing the door after him, andafter a few trials managing to close the two bars which secured theplace. 

"Don't want no help there, sir?"

"No; I have done it, " was the reply; and Roy ascended the steps andwaited for his companion to close the stone trap. 

"Not a bad hole this to shut any one up in if we ever wanted to get ridof him, eh? He'd have to shout pretty hard to make any one hear. "

"Don't talk; let's get away from the dreadful place, " said Roy, whoseface was wet with perspiration. "Can you carry both kegs?"

"Half a dozen if you'd range 'em, sir, " replied Ben. 

"Then I'll fasten the doors after us; and, mind this, the magazine mustalways be most carefully locked up. "

"You trust me for that, sir!" replied Ben. "I know too well what powdercan do to try any tricks or trust anybody with it but myself. Why, doyou know, sir, what would happen if I gave a fellow like Tom Rogers akeg to carry?"

"No; how can I tell?" said Roy, shortly. 

"Well, I can, sir: he'd set it up on end, sit upon it, and take out aflint and steel to light his pipe as like as not. "

"Don't talk any more, please, Ben, " said the boy as he proceeded to lockone of the doors. 

"No, sir; I only did it so as to keep you from thinking about what we'vebeen doing. I suppose one would get used to it, but it does seem to merather ugly work even to an old soldier. "

"Where are we to put these two kegs?" said Roy. 

"In the big closet in the armoury, sir, " replied Ben. "Don't you fidgetabout them; they shall be all right, for that's my part of the place, and nobody goes in there without my leave. "

"It's impossible to help feeling a little uncomfortable about them, Ben, but I know you'll take care. "

"I just think I will, sir. I'm very particular about no harm coming toSergeant Benjamin Martlet; and as to doing anything that might meanrisks for my lady--but there, I needn't say nothing about that. You cancome and see me put 'em away. "

Roy insisted upon carrying one of the kegs, in spite of the oldsoldier's opposition, not to relieve him of the load, but as a lesson tohimself in the art of getting used to the dangerous composition. Inaddition, it had occurred to him that he should have to be present whenthe barrels were opened, and the gun or guns fired to test their utilityand strength after lying by for so many years. Roy had never even hearda big gun fired, and he told himself that it would not do for him todisplay the slightest dread before the men. 

Consequently he hid his nervousness, and helped to deposit the kegs inthe great cupboard which contained Ben's tools and cleaning apparatus. 

"There!" said that individual, "as soon as we've had our parade, anddismissed the troops, we'll see to that powder, and find out what it'slike. "

He thrust the key into his pocket, buckled on his sword again, and, drawing himself up, asked the "captain" to lead the way to the entrancegate. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

MASTER PAWSON GIVES HIS OPINIONS. 

"You're quite turning everything into military style, Ben, " said Roy, asthey left the armoury. 

"Yes, sir; nothing like it. Keep the men up to the mark. "

"But isn't it comic to speak of the people as the troops?"

"No, sir; not a bit. Troops are troops whether there's many or few. It's serious work is fighting, and, with due respect to you, sir, there's nothing comic in treating our new levies as if they wereseasoned men. "

All the same, though, Roy felt that he could not agree with hiscompanion, when they reached the great gate-way, now, for the timebeing, made the parade ground. To his eyes the aspect of the place wasdecidedly comic, and his first impulse upon seeing the familiar figuresof butler, footman, grooms, and gardeners, looking stiff and awkward intheir heavy buff coats, creased and angular for want of use, was toburst out laughing. 

But he did not even smile, for he could see that the men were glancingat him consciously, and he knew that any such display of mirth at theirpersonal appearance would have had a most disastrous effect. As it was, he behaved very wisely, for when Ben shouted out an order for them tofall into line, Roy advanced to the men at once with a few encouragingremarks. 

"The accoutrements and things have been lying by so long, " he said, "that they must be very uncomfortable and stiff. "

"Yes, sir, they really are, " said the butler, shaking his head. "Youfeel as if you can't move in them; and my steel cap is terribly heavy. "

"You'll find them grow more easy to wear after a bit, " said Roy, at aventure. "I see you are pretty well fitted, and--What's that, Ben?"

For voices came from the gate-way beyond the drawbridge, a hundred yardsfrom where they were standing. 

"I'll see, sir, " said Ben, importantly, as he drew himself to thesalute. "Beg pardon, sir, " he added in a low tone; "be better now ifyou'd make everything soldierly and speak to me as sergeant. Don't seewhy my old rank shouldn't tell now, and it will help me with the threetroopers, for one of 'em's a corporal. "

Roy nodded, and directly after followed his sergeant, for he began tohave an inkling of what was going on. 

As he crossed the drawbridge, it was in time to hear Master Pawson say, in his high-pitched voice and in a tone of anger that was quite new--

"Oh, there you are, Martlet! What is the meaning of all this folly?Rogers dressed up, and telling me I can't come in without an order fromher ladyship. "

"Quite right, sir, " said Ben, steadily; "only he didn't know he was tolet in any one belonging to the place. "

"But what does it mean? I've been out since morning, and I return tofind the gate locked, and a man playing at being a sentry. Why, Roy, mydear boy, surely this is not some bad joke of yours?"

"Unfasten the gate, Rogers, and let Master Pawson in, " said Roy, withhis face turning scarlet; and, seeing his look of confusion, thesecretary continued--

"Oh, I see; it is playing at soldiers. And gracious me! who are thoseunder the gate-way? Surely troops have not arrived in my absence. Mydear Roy, surely her ladyship does not countenance this? It is tooabsurd. "

Annoyance made the boy feel indignant, and he knew that those near himexpected him to speak on their behalf. 

"It is not absurd, Master Pawson, " he replied, sharply. "The castle isbeing placed under military rule now, and will be put in a state ofdefence as soon as possible. "

"That's so!" growled Ben, whose face was black as a thunder-cloud. 

Master Pawson gave him a quick look, but he did not speak to him, but toRoy. 

"A state of defence!" he said, in a tone of raillery; "what nonsense!and pray, why?"

"On account of the troubled times, sir. "

"Troubled times! What troubled times?"

"Surely you know, sir, who have been bringing my mother news of therevolution. "

Master Pawson's eyes opened a little more widely, for he was astonished. The boy addressing him seemed no longer the quiet, sport-loving pupilwho came up into the tower to read with him and listen patiently whilehe played on his violoncello, but one who had suddenly been transformed. 

"Ah, you mean the tidings of those people who object to some of theking's orders? But really that has nothing to do with us out here inthis quiet, retired place. And you are making it an excuse for all thisfolly? For shame, Roy! Dressing up the servants, and putting on asword! Go and take it off, boy, and do not make yourself ridiculous. "

Ben glanced at his young master, whose face was redder than ever, andwaited impatiently for him to speak, while Master Pawson turned towardshis pupil smilingly, extending one hand to lay upon his shoulder, theother to lay hold of his sword. 

"There is nothing absurd or nonsensical about it, Master Pawson, " hesaid, firmly. "As I have told you, the castle will be put in a state ofdefence. "

"You mean repair, my dear boy, " said the secretary, mockingly. 

"Yes, repair if you will, as to the weak parts, sir. And as to playingat soldiers, we may look a little awkward at first, as we are not usedto our weapons and arms; but that will soon pass off, and you will haveto join us, and do your best. "

"That's so!" growled Ben, whose face began to lighten up a little as Royspoke out so firmly. 

Master Pawson turned upon the old soldier with his eyebrows raised in alook of surprise. 

"My good man, " he said, "will you please to recollect your positionhere. "

Ben saluted, and drew himself up as stiff as a pike. 

"Nonsense, my dear boy!" continued Master Pawson; "this is all foolishvanity, and I am sure that, when you have thought it over coolly, youwill see that it is childish for you, a boy, to imagine that you can doany good by making this silly display. Why, you must have been readingsome old book of chivalry and warlike adventure. If you only knew howridiculous you look with that long sword buckled on, you would soon takeit off. You look almost as absurd as Rogers here; I thought somescarecrow had been stuck up by the gate. "

"Yes, sir; that's right, " growled Ben. "Scarecrows who were going toscare off all the crows as try to peck at his majesty the king. "

"Silence, Martlet!" cried Roy, sharply. "It is not your place to speakto Master Pawson like that. "

"I should think not, " said the secretary, with his face flushingslightly. 

"Beg pardon, sir, a slip: not mutiny, " said Ben. 

"No, but insolence on the part of a menial, " cried Master Pawson; "andif it is repeated, I shall ask Lady Royland to dismiss you, sir, atonce. "

"And my mother would refuse to dismiss so old and faithful a servant, "said Roy, warmly. 

The secretary looked at the boy wonderingly again, and his eyesdarkened; but he smiled the next moment. 

"Come, come, Roy!" he said. "Pray leave off this nonsense, and have thegate left open. Send the men back to their work. You will thank me forgiving you this advice to-morrow. "

"No, Master Pawson, I shall not, " said Roy, firmly. "The gate will bekept locked; no one will be allowed to pass without the word, andto-night the drawbridge will be raised; by to-morrow, I dare say, weshall be able to lower the portcullis. "

"Are you mad, my boy?"

"I hope not, sir. "

"Do you mean to tell me that you will not listen to my advice?"

"Yes, sir; I cannot. "

"Then, my good lad, I must be severe. I have tried gentle means. Asyour tutor, in whose charge you have been left by your father, I commandyou to give up all this silly mummery. You have something better to dothan to waste time over such childish tricks. Go to your room, and staythere for a while before you come to mine with an apology. Quick! Atonce!"

He stood, looking very important, as he gave a quick stamp and pointedtowards the castle. 

"You, Jenkin, go and put that sword away! Rogers and Martlet, go backto your work at once!"

"Stop!" said Roy, firmly, as the men looked at him for help. "Keep asyou are. Master Pawson is my tutor, but he has no right to give you anyorders. --I must ask you, sir, to go to your room, and not to interferewith what is going on around. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Ben, expelling a tremendous pent-up breath, and heturned and winked at Rogers and Jenk, though the poor old gate-keepercould not see. 

"The boy is mad, " cried Master Pawson, flushing angrily now. "This isbeyond bearing. An act of rebellion. Once more, sir, will you obeyme?"

"Obey you, Master Pawson? In my studies, yes. Over the business of thecastle, no!"

"I am striving to save you from being ridiculed by the whole district, sir, and I appeal to you not to force me to have you humbled by going into complain to Lady Royland. "

"You will not humble me, sir, by going in to complain to my mother, forshe endorses everything I have done. "

"Her ladyship does!" cried Master Pawson, looking quite aghast. 

"Of course. All this is by my father's orders. "

"Absurd, boy! Your father has given no such orders. "

"Indeed!" said Roy, flushing angrily at the contradiction. "You havenot been at home, sir, or you would have seen his messengers, threetroopers, ride up this morning, from his regiment, who will stay to helpus strengthen the place. There they are! I hope you don't think theylook ridiculous in their uniforms. "

For, as he was speaking, the three men, rested now and refreshed, hadmarched from the servants' hall to where the new recruits were drawn up, and stood there waiting for their captain to return. 

For a few moments Master Pawson's face dropped, and he stared in hisutter astonishment. 

But he recovered himself quickly, and said, with a smile--

"Of course I did not know of this, my dear boy, especially as it all waswhile I have been away. As your father has given the orders in hisletter, --and I am very glad that your mother has heard at last, --ofcourse there is nothing to be done, unless her ladyship can be broughtto see how unnecessary it all is, and likely to cause trouble andmisconstruction among the neighbours. I am sure that if Sir Granbycould be here now, he would see that it was needless. Whatever troublesmay arise, nothing can disturb us in this secluded spot. There, I willgo now to attend to my reading. When you have done playing atsoldiers, " he added, with a slightly mocking emphasis upon the"playing", "perhaps you will join me, Roy. You will get tired ofhandling swords too large for your hand, but of studies you can neverweary. _Au revoir_. I am sorry we had this little misunderstanding. "

He patted Roy on the shoulder and walked on across the drawbridge, as ifnot perceiving that his pupil followed him; and as he drew near theservants, ranged rather awkwardly in their fresh habiliments, he smiledin a way which made every man shrink and feel far more uncomfortablethan he had been made by his stiff buff coat. But as he passed thethree troopers, --fine, manly-looking, seasoned fellows, who wore theiruniforms as if to the manner born, and who drew themselves up andsaluted him, evidently looking upon him as one of the importantpersonages of the house, --he ceased to smile, and went on to his studyin the north-west tower, looking very serious and much disturbed inmind. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

GUNS AND NO POWDER?

Very little more was done with the men that day, for, in spite of Roy'sspirited behaviour, he felt afterwards that Master Pawson had cast adamp upon the proceedings. Still, he knew that something must be doneto counteract that sneering smile distributed among the men by thetutor; and upon his return to the rank he walked to and fro, andexpressed his satisfaction at the promptitude they had displayed, and, after ordering them to assemble at nine the next morning, he dismissedthem. For the messenger had returned with the village carpenter, whotook one of the old capstan-bars for a pattern, and undertook to havehalf a dozen new ones of the strongest oak made by the next morning. 

Then there was the greasing of the drawbridge chains and rollers to seeto, and, when this was successfully done, Roy found to his satisfactionthat the men could raise or lower it with, if not ease, at all eventswithout much difficulty. 

To the boy's great delight, he found that the three troopers droppedinto their places in the most easy manner, obeying his every order withalacrity and displaying all the readiness of well-drilled men. Theybegan by assisting at once with the cleaning and easing of thedrawbridge chains, one of them, after stripping off his coat, gorget, and cap, climbing the supports to apply the lubricant to the rollersfrom outside, where they needed it most; and when, that evening, Bensuggested that one of the guns standing in the pleasaunce should beexamined, they made the servants stare by the deft way in which theyhelped him to handle the ponderous mass of metal, hitching on ropes anddragging it out from where it had lain half-covered with ivy to where itwas now planted, so that it could be made to sweep the road-wayapproaching the bridge; the other one in the garden being afterwardstreated in the same way. 

"Well, yes, sir, they're pretty heavy, " said the corporal, in answer toa compliment passed by Roy upon the ease with which the work had beendone; "but it isn't all strength that does it. It's knack--the way ofhandling a thing and all putting your muscle into it together. "

"Ay, that's it, " said Ben. "That's what you see in a good charge. Ifit's delivered in a scattering sort o' way it may do good, but thechance is it won't. But if the men ride on shoulder to shoulder andknee to knee, and then give point altogether--"

"Yes, as Sir Granby Royland's regiment can, " said the corporal, proudly. 

"Ay, and always did, " cried Ben, excitedly. "It takes something tostand against 'em. "

There was a dead silence then, and Roy's heart beat fast, for the warspirit was getting hold of him tightly, for his eyes flashed, and hiseagerness to go on with the preparations grew stronger every hour. 

"Now, about these guns, sergeant?" he said. 

Ben's eyes twinkled as his rank was mentioned, and he gave his youngmaster a grateful look. 

"Well, sir, " he said, "they've been fast asleep in that garden all theseyears, with enough ivy over 'em to keep 'em warm in winter and the sunoff 'em in summer; but, now they've been woke up, I believe they'll barkas loudly and bite as well as any dogs of their size. If they'd beencast iron, I should have been for putting a very light charge in 'em andstanding a good way off when they were fired, but, seeing as they'reregular good brass guns and not a bit worn, all they want is a goodcleaning up, and then they'll be fit to do their work like--like--well, sir, like guns. What do you say, corporal?"

"I say they're a fine and sound pair o' guns, sergeant, as'll do theirwork. We should like a night's rest first, but in the morning my twolads and me will give 'em a good scour up, and you won't know 'emagain. "

"Right! If the captain says yes, you shall; but I want to be with you--I'm armourer here. "

"Oh, of course, sergeant, " said the trooper. "Don't you think we wantto take your place. "

"I don't, my lad, " said the old soldier, warmly; "and I'm only too gladto have three comrades out of the reg'lars to stand by me and help me tolick the recruits into shape. "

"Thank ye, sergeant, " said the man. "We four can soon do that. They'rethe right stuff, and only want a bit o' training. " Then, turning andsaluting Roy respectfully, he went on: "Sir Granby give us all atalking-to, sir, and said he'd picked us out because we--I meant'others--was the handiest fellows he knew in the regiment, and he hopedwe'd do our best to get things in a good state of defence. And, ofcourse, sir, we shall. "

The great, manly fellow spoke with a simple modesty that made Ben's eyessparkle, and he nodded his head and remained silent when the man hadended, but gave vent to his satisfaction by bringing his hand downheavily upon the trooper's shoulder. 

"We'll see to the other guns now then, " said Roy. 

"Yes, sir, " said Ben, promptly. "Forward there to the sou'-east tower. "

The three men marched off at once in the direction pointed out, and Benstopped back for a moment or two to whisper to Roy, in a quick, vexedmanner--

"Don't go on saying we'll do this next, or we'll do that next, sir, asif you was asking a favour of us. You're captain and castellan, as theycalls him. You're governor and everything, and you've got to order usto do things sharp, short, and strong. "

"But I don't want to bully you all, Ben, " cried Roy. 

"Nobody wants you to, sir. You can't be bullying a man when you'reordering him sharply to do what's right. Of course, if you ask us inyour civil way to do a thing, we shall do it, but it aren't correct. "

"I'll try differently, Ben. "

"Sergeant, sir!"

"Ser-_geant_, " said Roy. "But it's all so new yet, I can't quiterealise it. And, of course, I'm so young to be ordering big men about. "

"You've the right to do it, sir, and that's everything. Now, justsuppose the enemy was in front playing up ruination and destruction, andyour father was going to charge 'em with his regiment of tough dragoons, do you think he'd say, `Now, my men, I want you to--or I'd like you toattack those rapscallions yonder'? Not he. He'd just say a word to thetrumpeter, there'd be a note or two blown, and away we'd go at a walk;another blast, and we should trot; then another, and away we should beat 'em like a whirlwind, and scatter 'em like leaves. You must learn toorder us, sir, sharply. Mind, sir, it's _must_!"

"Very well, " said Roy. 

"Don't you be afraid, sir; let us have your order sharp, whatever it is, and we'll do it. "

"Then don't stand chattering there, sir!" cried Roy, fiercely. "Can'tyou see those three men are waiting for you at the bottom of the tower?Forward!"

"Ck!"

It was an unspeakable ejaculation which came from the old soldier'sthroat as he turned sharply and marched off to the men, chuckling tohimself and shaking his shoulders as he went. 

"He'll do, " he muttered; and then aloud, "Up with you, my lads!"

Ben followed the men, and Roy came last, and, as he entered thedoor-way, he thought of the journey down to the powder-magazine, andfelt a little shame at his nervousness. 

Then up and up past the two floors and on towards the roof. As hereached the door-way leading out on to the battlements, he stood in thegloomy interior, and looked along the roof of the untenanted portiontowards the north-west tower, wondering what Master Pawson was doing. 

He was not left in doubt, for he could just see the secretary standingback from one of the narrow windows scanning the tower he was in, evidently having seen them enter, and watching to see what they wereabout to do. 

A bit of boyishness entered into Roy just then, brought about by thebusiness he was upon and the work he had been engaged in. 

"I should like to startle him, " he said to himself, as he gave hismischievous thought play. "One might load and train one of the guns, and fire the blank charge aimed just over his head. It would startlehim. "

The thought passed away directly, and he went up to the roof, where thefour men were together upon the platform examining the two guns facingthe embrasures. 

These were not quite so big as the two standing now beneath thegate-way, but, for the date, they were of a pretty good size, and havingthe wood-work of the mounting in excellent condition. 

"Well, how do they look?" Roy asked. 

"Better than I thought, sir. They'll do. Only want a good cleaning. If you think a charge or two ought to be fired, sir, as was talkedabout, shall it be with one of these?"

"If--yes; fire them both, " said Roy; and then he felt astonished at thefact that what he had imagined in mischief was really to be carried out. 

"Next order, sir?" said Ben, gazing in his captain's face. 

"See to the other guns on the north-east and south-west towers. "

"Yes, sir. What's to be done with the two as was slung down when MasterPawson's rooms was furnished?"

"Sling them up again, " cried Roy, promptly. "It is necessary now. "

Ben gave his leg a slap and looked his satisfaction. 

"Wouldn't like the two big guns hoisted over the gate-way, sir, Is'pose?"

"No, certainly not, " cried Roy; "they will be of more value to sweep theapproach of the castle. I'll have them kept there. Plenty of room tofire on each side of the drawbridge if it's up, and the muzzles wouldrun through the square openings in the portcullis. "

Old Ben stared at him round eyed, and shook his head; then he chuckledsoftly, and, muttering to himself his former words, "He'll do, " he ledthe men to the south-west tower, upon whose platform three brass gunswere mounted, and then to the north-east, where there were three more. 

Twelve guns in all for the defence of the castle; but the question was, would the ammunition be of any use? Balls there were in abundance, for, in addition to piles standing pyramidally at the foot of each tower, half-covered now by flowers and shrubs, there were similar piles closeto the carriage of each gun. But the vital force of the gun, the energythat should set the ball whizzing through the air, was the question, andto prove this, Ben asked for an order, and then walked with his youngcaptain to the armoury, where he opened the great closet. One of thekegs was brought out and set down upon the broad oak table. 

"I've been thinking, sir, that perhaps it would be best to fire the bigguns under the gate-way to-night. "

"Why?" asked Roy. 

"Because we know their carriages are right, and I'm a bit doubtful aboutthose upon the tower. "

"Very well; try the powder in those. "

"Yes, I hope I shall, " said Ben; "but I'm a bit scared, sir. "

"What! about the danger of opening the keg?"

"Tchah! no, sir. I can open that safely enough. It only meansloosening the two hoops at the end, and then the heading will slip out. I mean this--the barrels have been down there no one knows how long, andwhat I want to know is, will it be powder after all?"

"Not powder after all!" cried Roy in astonishment, as his active mindbegan to question what liquor it could be there that was stored up socarefully as if it were a treasure indeed. 

"I'm afraid it won't be, sir--very much afraid. "

"Then what do you think it is?"

"Solid blocks o' stony stuff, sir, I should say. "

"But they don't put stony stuff in kegs like these. "

"No, sir, powder; but perhaps it has got damp with time and hardened soas it won't be of any use. "

"Not if it's dried and ground up again. "

"Don't know, sir; can't say; but we'll soon see. " There was nohesitation shown. Ben tapped the two top hoops a little, and they soongrew loose and were worked up the staves; the top one withdrawn, and thenext brought up into its place, having the wooden disc which formed thehead free to be lifted out. 

"I thought so, sir, " said Ben with a sigh, as he looked in. "Just solidblack, and nothing else. "

He thumped the top of the contents with his knuckles, and then tappingthe lower hoops they glided down and the staves fell apart, leaving ablack block standing upon the table. 

"Oh, this is bad luck, sir! horribly bad luck!" groaned Ben. "We shallhave to get some powder from somewhere, Plymouth or--yes, Bristol's themost likely place. "

"Fetch out the other keg, and open that, Ben, " said Roy. "To be sure, sir, " said Ben, and he turned to the closet and bore the second keg tothe table. "If this is all right, " he went on, "there's some hope forus, because we may find some more; but if it has gone bad from bothsides it's all over with us: we can only stand well on the towers andthrow stones down at whoever comes. "

Ben's fingers were as busy as his tongue, and in a few minutes he hadthe head out of the second keg, looked in, and tapped it with hisknuckles. 

"Just the same, sir, just the same. "

"Look here, Ben! I'll have one of these blocks chopped up, and thenground up fine, and we'll try it with a musket. "

"Good, sir! that's the right thing to do; but after being wet once, I'mafraid it'll fizz off now like a firework. "

"You don't know till you've tried, man. Now, let's see: get an axe, sergeant. "

"If I might ask your pardon, captain, axes aren't the proper thing tobreak up a block of gunpowder. I should say a beetle or a mall was thething. "

"Well, get a mallet, then, " said Roy; and the old man went to his toolsused for repairing the armour, carpentering, or any other odd jobs, andbrought out a mallet, with which he was about to strike a tremendousblow in the middle of the block, when Roy checked him. 

"No, no!" he cried; "give it to me. I'll knock a piece off the topedge. "

Ben handed the mallet respectfully enough, but he shook his head as ifhe did not consider that handling mallets was correct for the castellanof the place; while raising the implement not without some shade ofdoubt as to whether an explosion might follow the blow, but reassuringhimself as he remembered that the mallet was only wood, Roy brought itdown on the top with a sharp rap, and then started back in dismay, for apiece like a fragment of black potsherd fell upon the table with a bang, and a stream of fine grains came flowing out of the great hole he hadmade, covering the hardened piece and running on like black sand. 

"Hurrah!" shouted Ben, excitedly; "they're all right, sir. Just formeda cake outside, and the inside's all safe and good. Twelve good brassguns, and plenty of powder. We're ready for all the enemies the kinghas got in this part of the world. Now we'll see for a couple ofcartridges for the guns. "

He fetched a couple of small bags, which he filled with the powder, andthen, after putting back the unbroken keg-shaped block, as carefullycleared all the loose powder from the table, and placed that and theshape from which it had come in the oak closet, which he locked. 

"Powder's powder, sir; so one has to take care, " he said. "Now for atouch port-fire, and we'll try what sort of stuff it is. "

Ben gave Roy a knowing look, and then from a drawer in the table he tooka piece of prepared oakum such as was used for lowering into the pan ofa freshly primed gun, stepped to a case in which were some old rammers, and declared himself ready to start, but hesitated and went to histool-drawer again, out of which he routed a long thin spike. 

"Now I think we're ready, sir, " he said, and they went out to where themen were waiting, and prepared to load the two guns under the gatetower. 

"These are only makeshifts, " said Ben, apologetically, as he indicatedhis rough cartridges; "but they'll do to clear out the guns, " and he setthem down in the door-way leading into the old guard-room. 

Then the long thin pin was tried in the touch-holes of both guns, andafter a good deal of poking and drilling the orifices were cleared. Meanwhile, one of the troopers took the rammer Ben had brought out, inserted it at the muzzle, and found that it would only go in half-way. So a ragged stick was fetched, run in, twisted round and round, andwithdrawn, dragging after it a wad of horsehair, cotton, hay, andfeathers, while a succession of trials brought out more and more, thetwisting round having a cleansing effect upon the bore of the gun aswell. 

"Ah!" said Ben, solemnly, "them tomtits have had the guns all tothemselves for a fine time. I shall have to make some tompions to keepthem out. "

Quite a heap of nest-building material was drawn out of the two guns, the first obtained being evidently of that season, while farther in itwas old and decayed to a mere mouldy powder that might have been carriedin by the industrious little birds a score of years before. 

At last all was declared clear. The bags of powder were thrust in, awad of the cleanest hay from the heap followed, and one of the troopersrammed the charges home, with the result that the powder rose well inthe touch-holes, and nothing remained to be done but to insert thelightly twisted pieces of touch-string and apply a light. 

"Better way than doing it with a red-hot poker, as some of us might liketo stand back till the guns are proved, " said the old soldier, grimly. "One of you take that there to the kitchen and get a light, " he said, "to do for a port-fire. "

He handed a piece of the prepared oakum to one of the men, who ran offwith it, and directly after Roy stepped back quickly and hurried intothe house. 

Ben said nothing, but he glanced after the boy with a fierce look, pursing up his lips, and then muttering to himself, his expressionindicating the most profound disgust. 

Meanwhile, Roy ran into the private apartments of the castle, and madehis way to the library; but Lady Royland was not there. 

Uttering an ejaculation full of impatience, the boy hurried into thewithdrawing-room, where he had better fortune, for he found his motherwaiting there as if she expected him. 

"You, my dear?" she said. "I was waiting here to see Master Pawson; hesent me a message to ask if I would see him on matters of importance. Do you know what he wishes to say?"

"Well, I almost think I do, mother, " replied the boy. 

"Then you have come to meet him?"

"No, " said the boy; "I didn't know he had sent. I came to warn you notto be alarmed, for we are just going to fire. "

_Boom_!

A report like thunder made the casements rattle as if they were beingdashed in. This was followed by an echoing roar, and then came ayelling cry as of some one in agony. 

"Oh, my boy, what has happened?" cried Lady Royland, starting from herchair, clapping her hands to her ears, and then sinking back palpitatingin the nearest chair. "Run and see; something terrible must haveoccurred. "

Roy had already dashed to the door, and he ran out and along to thegreat gate-way, where his mother's words seemed to be verified, for, onreaching the spot where the gun which had been fired had run back ashort distance, there was the knot of men half hidden by the smoke thatwas slowly rising, and in front of them, just below the portcullis, lay, apparently lifeless, the figure of Master Pawson, face downward upon theflags. 

"What have you done, Ben?" cried the boy. 

"Done? I never done it, " growled the man, fiercely. "You runned away;so I put the light to the gun myself, and then we all stood and waited, till all at wunst Master Pawson comes round the corner like. I dunnohow he come there; and off goes the gun and down goes he. "

Roy was already upon one knee, turning the secretary over on his backand examining him for the terrible injury he felt must have beenreceived. But as Roy was proceeding to open his collar, he opened hiseyes, sprang up into a sitting position, and then began to abuse the boyfiercely. 

"You did it on purpose, " he cried; "and it's a mercy it did not killme. "

"Then you are not killed?" said Roy, dryly. 

"No; but I might have been. It was a cowardly thing to do. "

"Ay, it were, Master Roy!" whispered Ben, turning upon him. "I thoughtyou'd ha' had heart enough to ha' stood by us. "

"What do you mean?" cried Roy, rising angrily. 

"Oh, you know, sir; sets such a bad example to the men. "

"I don't understand you; nor you neither, Master Pawson. "

"It's disgraceful; and Lady Royland shall put a stop to such monkeytricks. "

"Powder-monkey tricks, " growled Ben. 

"Why, you don't think I fired that gun on purpose, sir?"

"No, I don't think so, " cried Master Pawson, in his high-pitched, scolding tone; "I am quite sure, sir; and it is disgraceful. "

"But I wasn't here!"

"You were there. I saw you with the men, pretending to clean the gun, while I was yonder watching the sunset and waiting for an answer to amessage I had sent in to your mother, sir, when, as you saw me comeround the corner, you fired. "

"I did not, sir; for I was not there. "

"Ay, that's true enough, sir, " said Ben, bitterly; "he warn't here. "

"I don't believe it, " cried Master Pawson, angrily, and his voicesounded like that of some angry woman. "It was a trick; and all thisnonsense shall be put a stop to. "

"You can believe it or not, sir, " said Roy, growing calmer as thesecretary waxed more angry. 

"I shall speak to Lady Royland at once. "

"Do, sir. She is waiting to see you; she was telling me so when the gunwent off. "

"Gun went off! And what business has a gun to go off here in thisplace?" cried the secretary, as he stood, now feeling himself all overand brushing the dust from off his velvet coat. 

"Only got the wind of the gun, sir, " said the corporal, quietly. 

"I was not speaking to you, my good man, " cried the secretary. 

"Bad plan to stand nigh the muzzle of a big gun when she's going to befired, " growled Ben, in a sententious voice, and the secretary turnedupon him sharply. 

"And you, sir, " he cried; "how dare you let a boy play such antics? Doyou know I heard the shot go by my face. "

"Nay, sir; that I'll say you didn't, " growled Ben. 

"But I say I did, sir, with a fierce rush. "

"One of the tomtits' eggs, perhaps, sergeant, " said Roy, dryly. "I knowI caught sight of one or two when the nest was rammed in. "

The men all burst out laughing, and Master Pawson grew preternaturallycalm. 

"Was that meant as an insult, Master Roy?" he said, turning towards himand speaking slowly, with his eyes half shut and an unpleasant, sneeringsmile upon his lips. 

"No, sir; as a joke, " replied Roy, gravely. 

"I thank you; but keep your jokes for the servants; try them upon themenials. Recollect that I am a gentleman, placed in authority over youby Sir Granby Royland as tutor and master, and, as I am in authorityover you, I am in authority over all here. Have the goodness torecollect that. "

He turned upon his heel and walked away, with the back of his doubletcovered with scraps of hay from the tomtits' nest, and Roy's firstinclination was to run after him to begin brushing him down. 

"But he'll only think I want to insult him again, " said the boy tohimself. "I wish I hadn't said anything about the tomtits' eggs, though. "

"Shall I run after him, sir, and ask if I shall give him a brush down?"whispered Ben. 

"No; let him find it out. One of the maids will tell him, I dare say. "

"But you should ha' stopped by us when the gun was fired, Master Roy, "protested Ben. "I see them three chaps wink at each other, as much asto say, `He won't stand fire, ' and it hurt me, sir, and seemed to beundoing all I did afore. I didn't think it of you. "

"I should like to kick you for thinking me such a coward, " cried Roy, fiercely, for his encounter with the secretary had set his temper onedge. "How dare you! You had no business to fire till I came back. Idid not want my mother to hear the report without some warning. --Here, corporal, give me that light. "

The man stepped up with it, and Roy took it out of his hand. 

"Going to fire this one, sir?" said Ben, eagerly. 

"Of course. Stand aside!" And Roy applied the sparkling port-fire tothe bit of prepared oakum standing out of the touch-hole, with theresult that it, too, began to sparkle and fume. 

"There, " he said; "I hope Master Pawson won't come back and befrightened by this one. "

He had hardly uttered the words when the secretary reappeared. 

"Where are all the servants?" he cried, angrily. "I want some one tocome and brush my clothes. "

"Stand aside!" shouted Ben. "She'll run right back. "

But the secretary did not understand what was meant, and turnedhaughtily upon the speaker, totally unconscious of the fact that he wasexactly behind the breech of the piece, whose recoil might have producedfatal results. 

It was no time for uttering warnings, and Roy knew it. He glanced onceat the tiny sparkling going on at the touch-hole of the gun, and sprangright at the secretary, driving him backward and falling heavily withhim to the ground. 

It was none too soon, for the gun went off with a tremendous roar, leaping up from the paving and running back on its low wheels right overthe spot where the secretary had just stood. 

"Guns is guns, and always was, " said Ben, very grimly; "and them as hasto do with 'em wants to know all their little ways. I have know'd aman's arm took off by the recoil, and, if you don't take care, theirbreeches is as dangerous to them as fires 'em as is their muzzles. "

"Hurt, sir?" cried Roy, offering his hand after gaining his own feet, ready to help the tutor to rise. 

Master Pawson made no reply, neither did he take the extended hand, butrose and walked away limping, going right down through the pleasaunce soas to reach his own room without having to pass through the corridor. 

"Bit rusty, I s'pose, sir, " said Ben, quietly. 

"I am afraid so, Ben, " was the reply. "But I don't think there's muchdoubt about the powder. "

"Doubt, sir; why, it's stronger than they makes now, or else it has gotriper and better for keeping. We're all right there. "

"Yes, capital! but that report rings in my ears still. "

"Ay, sir, a brass gun can ring as well as roar; but you won't mind itafter a few times. "

"I don't feel to mind it now, " said Roy, coolly. 

"Not you, sir, " whispered the old fellow. "And I beg your pardon, Master Roy, and you've done me, and yourself too, a lot of good. Itwould ha' been horrid for the men to think you was scared. I neverthought of frightening my lady with the row. Tell the lads to spongethe guns out with a bit o' rag, and then we'll run 'em back to theirplaces again. "

Roy gave the order, and then had the sentry changed at the gate, afterwhich there was another duty to have performed, --that of raising thedrawbridge. 

"No fear of any one forgetting and walking into the moat at night, isthere, Ben?"

"Well, no, sir; I think not, " said the old soldier, seriously. "Yousee, the bridge shuts up all the middle when it's raised, and that makesit sure, while at those sides nobody could tumble in without trying to;so I don't see no fear of that. Shall we haul her up, sir?"

"Yes. " And giving the order, as soon as the guns were in place, he ledthe way up into the furnace-chamber, where two men seized each chain, and the ponderous structure slowly rose as the huge weights descendedthe stone-work tubes in which they hung, the difficulty of hoisting thebridge proving to be much lighter than at the former trial. 

"Come, sir, that's safe. You won't set sentries to-night?"

"No, of course not, " said Roy; "that will be unnecessary till there isnews of some enemy being near. "

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

THE COMING OF RECRUITS. 

The next morning the carpenter was there with the capstan bars soonafter the bridge was lowered; and upon these being tried, after thecapstans and pulleys had been well greased, the portcullis was loweredand raised several times with the greatest facility, each time becomingmore easy to move, while old Ben's eyes glistened, and he worked as ifall these preparations for the defence of the place, with the possibleshedding of blood and loss of life, had suddenly added a delightful zestto his existence. 

But he was not alone in this, for Roy found a strange exhilaration inhis new position. There was something so novel in everything, and tryhow he would, it was hard to keep down a feeling of vanity, especiallywhen he came upon his mother busily preparing a scarf for him to wear. 

"For me?" he said. "Oh, mother! it's too fine. "

"Not at all, " she said, quietly. "Your men will like to see theirleader look striking. "

"Ah, well, " he replied, "I can't wear it while there is so much dirtywork to do. "

"That will be done by the men. Roy, my boy, you must rise to yourposition, and give orders more for things to be done. "

"That's what old Ben says, and I am trying; but it's hard work whileeverything is so new, and--"

"And what?"

"It seems as if Master--Oh, no; it's too paltry to be talked about. "

"Tell me what it is, and I will be the judge. "

"Well, you know how poor Master Pawson was upset with the firing?"

"Yes; and he ought to be very grateful to you for saving his life. Hashe not thanked you?"

"No; unless looking sneeringly at everything I do is thanking me. Thatmakes it seem so hard to put on a showy thing like that. He'll onlylaugh at it. "

"Master Pawson is not behaving well, " said Lady Royland, coldly. "Heactually had the impertinence to speak to me last night about thepreparations, and objected to the men being taken from their work. "

"Said it was absurd?"

"Yes; those were his words, Roy, and I was compelled to silence him. Hetold me he was sure that if Sir Granby knew how utterly unlikely it wasfor any of the disaffected people to come into this neighbourhood hewould immediately cancel the orders, and, under the circumstances, hecould not refrain from advising me to act according to his advice. "

"And what was his advice, mother?"

"To put a stop to the foolish preparations, which could only bringridicule upon all here. "

"He said something of the kind to me; more than I told you. "

"Why did you not tell me all?"

"Because it seemed so paltry. "

"Nothing is too paltry when we have so much at stake, Roy. "

"And was that the end of it?"

"No, my boy; he made me indignant by his presumption, and I told him toremember who he was. "

"What did he say to that?"

"Begged my pardon humbly, and said that perhaps I was right, and that hewould do everything he could to help me in this painful situation. I amglad he has spoken out and forced me to be plain. Now he will keep hisplace. "

"Yes, he will now, " said Roy. "I know what he felt; of course he wasannoyed at my taking the lead, after his going out leaving me only hispupil, and coming back to find me seeming to do exactly as I pleased. But I must go, mother, for there is such a lot to do. Don't ask me tobegin wearing silk and gold and feathers yet, though, please. "

Lady Royland smiled proudly as she kissed her son, and Roy hurried backto his lieutenant, who was anxiously expecting him. 

"Farmer Raynes has come over, sir, to see you. Wanted to know what theguns were fired for. "

"Where is he?"

"Yonder, sir, watching the corporal drill the men. "

Roy went to the gate-way, where the trooper was busy at work drillingthe men in the use of their firelocks, adding to his verbal instructionsthe examples of the two soldiers who came with him, these falling injust in front, and executing every order in the carriage of the piece, loading and firing, so that the servants could more easily understand. 

"Morning, Master Roy, " said the farmer, stepping out of the guard-roomdoor-way. "Heard the guns last night, and couldn't make out where thenoise come from. Found out this morning, though, and run over. Meanfighting, then, if they come here?"

"Certainly, " said Roy. "My father sent word for us to be prepared. Iwas going to send for you this morning. I want your men and you to comein, and be ready in case you are wanted. "

"Parson Meldew came and had a long talk with me day before yesterday, sir, and he told me that whatever I did I was to stay peacefully athome, mind my crops, and not interfere at all. But if I did, I was notto side with the king. "

"He dared to tell you that?" cried Roy. 

"Not quite in those words, sir, but he meant it. "

"Oh, if he wasn't a clerk, I'd say something, " cried Roy; "but what didyou say?"

"Nothing, sir; I only laughed. "

"And do you mean to stay at home and do what he told you?"

"Of course, sir, unless there's some fighting comes on, and then Isuppose we shall have to begin. "

"Against the king?"

"I'm going to fight for my good old landlord, Master Roy, the best man Iknow. He always stood my friend in hard times, and if he sends word Iam to, why, here I be with ten stout fellows, only you'll have to drillus all, same as you're doing with these here, unless pitchforks andflails will do; we can handle them. "

"Shake hands, Master Raynes, " cried Roy; "I want you and the men to comeand drill every day in the mornings, and I want you to bring us in asmuch wheat, oats, and flour as we can store up. You must buy when youhave not plenty, for we must be ready in case we are attacked. "

"What do you say to me going round and buying up all the ham and baconand salt pork I can get, sir?"

"Yes, certainly, " cried Roy. "My mother will supply the money. "

"Oh, that's all right enough, sir, " said the farmer. "But of course youdon't want us to come and live in the place until there's real trouble. "

"Certainly not. Give half your time to getting ready for troubles, andthe other half to the farm. "

"I see, sir. Ah, morning, Master Pawson. Wild times these. "

"Terrible, Master Raynes, terrible, " said the secretary, coming up. "Are you going to be drilled too?"

Roy glanced sharply round, but the secretary spoke earnestly, and withno suggestion of a sneer. 

"Yes, sir, me and my men must come and support my landlord, spite of allthat Parson Meldew may say. "

"Does he object?"

"Yes, sir; and pretty strongly, too. If I was him, I don't think Ishould say quite so much, for he may be hearing of it again. "

"But I hope all we hear is but exaggerated rumour, Master Raynes, foreverybody's sake. If it were half so bad as you all say, I don't knowwhat would happen. "

"Ah well, sir, nothing shall happen here if me and my lads can preventit. There, I won't waste time. The lads shall be over here in a coupleof hours, Master Roy, and I'll be getting off to market. "

The farmer went away, and Roy felt comparatively happy with his tutor, for Master Pawson seemed to have put aside the petty feeling ofannoyance, and to wish to let the trouble over the firing be quiteforgotten, so careful was he about avoiding any allusion to the guns. 

"I can't help, " he said, smiling; "only to look on. I was never meantfor a fighting man. What a change, though, you seem to be producing, Roy. "

This was sufficient to make Roy, with his natural boyish frankness, begin talking freely about his plans, for he was growing enthusiastic, and he even began to ask the secretary's opinion about two or threeminor matters. 

"Oh, don't ask me, " said his companion, laughing, and with an air ofprotest; "you might just as well expect me to begin wearing armour. No. You must do all the defending if trouble does come, and I beg you willgive particular orders to your men-at-arms to take the greatest care ofthe secretary, for you must not have him hurt. I suppose, then, thatthere will be no more studies for the present?"

"No, not for the present, " said Roy, rather importantly; "I have so muchto do. "

"Very well, man o' war; the man o' peace will go back to his music andhis books, but if you want me to do anything that I can do, send for meat once. "

Master Pawson put his hands behind him and walked thoughtfully throughthe garden towards the door-way leading to the ramparts, and from thenceto the north-west tower, by the green grass and flowers seeming to him amore attractive way than through the long corridor and past the occupiedrooms; while Roy made for the armoury, which seemed to be his study now. Ben was there, busy, and he looked up and nodded. "Master Pawson'ssoon settled down then, sir?" he said. 

"Oh, yes, Ben; he's good-tempered enough now. "

"Good job for him, sir. Can't have quarrelling in a garrison. I beganto think he was going to mutiny outright, and if he'd shown his teethany more, I suppose I should have had to remind him that there were somedeep, dark dungeons underground as a first dose, and the stone gallowsup at the far corner of the ramparts for the very worst cases. "

"But do you think that stone bar thing was ever used for executingpeople?"

"Sure of it, sir; and there's the opening underneath leading down tothat square patch beneath the walls. "

"But it may have been to hoist food or other things up during a siege. "

"Ah, it may have been, sir, " said Ben, grimly; "but I don't quite seewhy they should have chosen to make it just over the bit of a patch ofground between the walls and the moat where you couldn't get the forageto without a boat, and when there were a gate-way and bridge. 'Sides, too, why should they pick the old burying-place of the castle?"

"But that was not the old burying-place, surely, Ben?"

"You ask Dick Grey, gardener, what he found when her ladyship wanted theivy planted there to cover that bit o' wall. It was full of 'em. "

Roy shuddered. 

"That's so, sir. I expect in the old fighting days they used to bury'em there; and as it's just under that there gallows, why, of course, itwas used for traitors or spies as well. That reminds me, sir, as a lotof that ivy ought to be cut away. We don't want any one to make aladder of it for getting into the place. "

"Leave it for the present. It could be torn down in an hour if therewas any need. "

"Ay, sir, that's the way you take it over such things. That theregarden ought to be turned into a drilling-ground; you know it ought. "

"If there does come any need for it, the garden can go, " said Roy, "butnot until the very last. "

"That's right, sir. Only, if we're besieged, it will have to go. Now, let me see--that makes nine buff coats, and one more's ten, for FarmerRaynes's lot. Ought to give the farmer something a bit smarter, oughtn't I, as he'll expect to be a sergeant, won't he?"

"He'll like to be over his men. "

"But, you see, he's a big one, and there's a buff coat would suit himexact. I'll tell you what, sir, if he has the same as the others, and ascarf, and a feather in his cap, he'll be satisfied. "

"I should say so, Ben. "

"Then scarf and feather it shall be, sir. I'll have all their arms andthings ready for to-night; then they can have 'em in the morning whenthey come, and it'll put all them straw-whopping fellows in a goodtemper, and make 'em easy to drill. I want to pick out so many fellowsfor the big guns that we must have some more in soon. But it's betterto go gently. Saves a lot of confusion. "

"What's the next thing to do, Ben?"

"Everything, sir. Powder-bags to fill. Stores to get in. We must havea new flag. Place cleared out for garrison quarters. Something done tothe two old guard-rooms on each side of the gate. We've months of workto do, sir, try how we may, but we're going to do it, Master Roy, and--Oh, " continued the old fellow, pausing for a few moments in his task oftaking down belts and swords to lay one on each buff coat below thesteel caps just set out ready, "there's that other thing I wanted totalk to you about. "

"What other thing, Ben?"

"I was up atop of the great tower this morning. "

"I know. I saw you there. "

"I was looking at the furnace and thinking that must be touched up abit, and a good supply of wood and charcoal carried to it. There isplenty of lead at the foot of the north-east tower. "

"Ugh! We don't want to do any of those barbarous things, Ben; they'retoo horrible. Fancy pouring molten lead down on people's heads. "

"We don't want to pour no molten lead down on people's heads, sir, "protested the old soldier. "All we says to 'em is, we've got a wholelot of hot silver soup up here, and we shall pour it down on you if youcome hanging about our place, and trying to get in. Let 'em stop away, and then they won't be hurt. "

"But it's too horrible, Ben. I will not have that got ready. "

"Very well, sir. I don't know that it much matters, for they've got tocross the moat first, and I don't think we'll let 'em do that. The onlyway the enemy will get in here will be through traitors in the camp. "

"And we shall not have any of them, Ben. "

"Hope not, sir. "

"So if we are to fight, let it be in a fair, manly, chivalrous way. "

"Yes, sir, and hang all spies and traitors. "

"Don't let's imagine that such people are possible, " said Roy. "But wasthat what you wanted to talk about, sergeant?"

"No, captain, it wasn't. I got thinking this morning, as I was lookinground for weak points in our defences, that there's the old tale aboutthat there underground passage; the little chapel on the hill made methink of it first. "

"But do you believe it's possible, Ben?"

"Not knowing, sir, can't say. But I tell you what I do say: there'snothing like taking care. Don't do to leave a hole in a sand-bag ifit's ever so small. So as soon as we've got a little more ship-shapeand our garrison beginning to grow, let's you and me get a lantern somenight, and have a good look to see if there is such a rat's hole. "

"Of course; yes. "

"Keep it quiet, sir, except to her ladyship. There may be such a place, for in the good old times there were a great many curious doings, and itwould be a fine one to have a way in and out when the enemy thoughtthey'd got people shut up closely, and was going to starve 'em out; andthem able to bring in more men, and sacks of corn, and pigs and ducksand geese and chickens, and laughing at the enemy all the time. "

"We must see, Ben; and I want you, as soon as the farmer's party aresettling down, to go and try about more men. "

"I say, sir, aren't it strange as none of the gentry hasn't been over?"

"Too soon, perhaps, Ben. "

"Perhaps so, sir; but I can't help fancying everybody about here don'tthink quite the same as we do. "

"Not on the king's side? Oh, nonsense!"

"Hope it is, sir, " said the old fellow, thoughtfully inspecting anddrawing one of the swords; "but there, we shall see. Bad for some of'em if they are agen us, or I'm much mistook. "

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

MASTER PAWSON SHOWS HIS COLOURS. 

As the time glided on, no further communication arrived from Sir Granby, and Lady Royland and her son began to realise more and more that theywere shut off in a part of England where the king's friends were few andfar between, while those who remained true felt themselves sooutnumbered by their neighbours that they dared not display theirprinciples. 

Letters had been sent round by Lady Royland to several of the gentryresiding at different places, asking for help if it were needed, and atthe same time offering the castle as a sanctuary and rallying-point. 

One answer which was received will suffice to show the general feelingof the district. 

The letter was brought in while Lady Royland and her son were seated atbreakfast, and the servant-maid stated that it had been left with oldJenkin, at the gate, by a messenger the old man did not know, but whosaid that there was no reply needed. 

A letter was sufficient to throw Roy's mother into a state of agitation, eager as she was for news from her lord, and she eagerly tore it open, read it with a sigh, and passed it on to her son. 

Roy took it as eagerly and began reading it aloud. 

It was very brief, and was written in a peculiar hand that was notfamiliar. 

"Take counsel with yourself as to what you are doing. A great change iscoming over the country, for the king's cause is undoubtedly lost. Manywho respect the old family of Royland, and would help if they dared, feel that it is unwise to fly in the face of the new power, and to go inopposition to the people, who in all directions are declaring againstthe king. All who respect Dame Royland join in advising her to ceasethe show of resistance she is making, and to settle down quietly, readyto accept the fresh position, for resistance must mean destruction. Pause before it is too late. --From an old friend. "

"Well, " said Lady Royland, as her son read the letter through twice, "what do you think of that, Roy?"

"That the man who wrote it must be a coward. "

"It explains why we have not had more offers of help, my boy. I havefelt for days past that there must be something very wrong. We are, itseems, becoming isolated in an enemy's country, and so as to secure oursafety, I am advised to lay down my arms, and turn over my allegiance tothe new government, whatever it may be. That is what the letteradvises. "

"Yes, but who wrote it?" cried Roy. 

"It is evidently written by one person acting for others, and explainswhy my letters to gentlemen who I should have thought would have beenready to help me have remained unanswered. "

"Then we are to have no more help?"

"None, save that which we have secured from the village, and of coursefrom the tenants on our estate. What do you think, Roy? If I resist, we shall, from our weakness, in all probability be beaten, and the newgovernment will confiscate your father's property here; while, if wesettle down to an ignoble peace--"

"They'll perhaps seize upon the estate all the same. "

"Then you would resist, my boy?" said Lady Royland, watching her son'sface closely. 

"Resist, mother?" he cried, indignantly; "why, of course. After whatfather said, it is our duty to shut ourselves up here, hoist the king'sflag, and show the cowards who sent that letter that we're going tofight as long as there's a tower left in the old place. "

"Then you would advise me to go against everything that is said in thatletter?"

"Pah!" cried the boy, with a look of disgust. "I wonder you can ask mesuch a question, mother. "

Roy had risen from the table, and with his face scarlet was walking upand down the room. 

"I asked you because I wanted to see what your real feelings were, myboy, " said Lady Royland, going to him to lay her hands on his shoulderand look proudly in his face. "Roy, my boy, if I followed the advice ofthat contemptible time-serving letter, I should feel that I was provingfalse to the brave men who have gathered round us at my call, to myhusband, and my king; lastly, my boy, to you. Give up? You know how Ishuddered at the thought of war; how it was my prayer that you shouldnot follow your father's career; but when duty called, Roy, I cast allmy fears behind, and stood forward ready to do or die. No, Roy! notwhile we have a shot left to fire, a strong hand to raise! Let thosewho will seek for safety in this base submission to the rebel powers: wewill show them that a woman and a boy can be faithful to the end. Thatfor the letter and its cowardly advice, " she cried, tearing itdisdainfully to pieces. "We have but one thought here, Roy, and the oldwalls shall echo it as long as the stones will stand--God save theking!"

Roy leaped upon one of the chairs, drew his sword and waved it round hishead, roaring out, with all his might, "God save the king!" Anddirectly after there was a hurried step at the door, which was thrownopen, and the electric excitement in the lad's breast was discharged asif he had received a touch from a rod. 

For the maid-servant appeared, looked at him in astonishment, and said, "Did you call, Master Roy?"

The boy got down, and sheathed his sword, babbling out something, andhis mother smilingly said--

"No; you were not called. "

"I beg pardon, my lady, " said the woman, and she retired. 

"Oh, I say, mother!" faltered Roy; "how stupid I must have seemed!"

"I did not think so, " said Lady Royland, smiling. 

"But it looked as if I were acting. "

"Go on acting so, then, my son, " said his mother, proudly; "we need notstudy what people think. "

"Here's Master Pawson, " whispered Roy, quickly. "Go back to your chair, mother. "

Roy went to his own, and Lady Royland slowly followed his example, asthe secretary, after passing the window, entered the room. 

"I beg pardon, " he said, "for being so late. Good-morning, LadyRoyland; good-morning, Roy. I slept so dreadfully soundly. "

"You need not apologise, Master Pawson, " said the lady, gravely; and shenoted that his quick eyes had rested upon the fragments of the torn-upletter scattered about the room, where she had tossed themcontemptuously. "You are looking at the letter I received thismorning. "

"A letter?" he cried, eagerly; "from Sir Granby?"

"No, " said Lady Royland, with a sigh which she could not restrain; "itis from close at hand--from some of our neighbours. I wish I had keptit for you to see. "

"Not bad news, I hope, " he said, looking pale. 

"Yes; very bad news, " said Lady Royland. "I have been waiting fordays--it is right that you should know--hoping to get promises of helpfrom the different friends we have round, but till now the answer to myappeal has been silence. This morning they gave me their reason for notreplying. "

"May I ask from whom you have heard?"

"I cannot tell you, " said Lady Royland; "the letter is signed `afriend, ' and it advocates total surrender to the rebellious power ofwhich we hear so much. "

"But you will not surrender, Lady Royland?"

"Surrender? No!" cried Roy. "Never!"

"That is right, " said the secretary, flushing a little. 

"No; I shall not surrender, " said Lady Royland, firmly; "but as it meansthat we are becoming isolated, and are doomed to stand alone, I feel itmy duty to speak plainly to you, Master Pawson. "

He turned very pale again, and his eyes glanced restlessly from one tothe other. 

"I hope--I trust, " he faltered, "that I have not done anything more toincur your displeasure, Lady Royland. "

"No, Master Pawson, nothing; on the other hand, I have to thank you forthe brave way in which for some days past you have mastered your disliketo the proceedings here, and helped my son to advance my objects. "

"I--I have only tried to do my duty, " he said, flushing again. 

"Still, I cannot disguise from myself, Master Pawson, that dangers aregathering around us fast, and that it is my duty to relieve you of aposition which must be growing intolerable. "

"I--I do not understand your ladyship, " he said, looking at herwonderingly. 

"Let me explain, then. I feel that I have no right, Master Pawson, tokeep you here. I think, then, that while there is the opportunity, andbefore you are compromised in any way, you should sever your connectionhere and go. "

"Ah! I see what your ladyship means now, " he said, drawing a deepbreath as if of relief, and looking firmly in Roy's searching eyes. "Goaway before any one of importance comes and makes a demand for thesurrender of the castle. "

"That is what I do mean. "

"Yes, exactly, " said the secretary, thoughtfully; "and when the troublesare over, and the king has chastised all these insolent people who haverisen against him, and, lastly, when I meet Sir Granby Royland, and heasks me why I deserted his wife and son in their emergency, what can Isay?"

Lady Royland was silent for a few moments, and her eyes rested in asoftened manner upon the secretary's face. 

"Say, " she said at last, and her voice sounded a little husky, "that itwas my wish that you should go, for I did not desire that any one but Ishould be compromised. "

"Thank you, Lady Royland, " said the secretary, quietly; and as he spoke, Roy felt his dislike to the man increasing moment by moment up to acertain point. "And, of course, " he said, "I must require money fortravelling and to make my way back to London. "

"That you shall be properly supplied with, of course, Master Pawson. "

"Thank you again, Lady Royland, " he said, as he went on calmly with hisbreakfast; "it is very good of you, and when I require it, I will ask. "

"Better that it should be done at once, sir, " Lady Royland said, firmly, "and that you should go. "

"And leave you and Master Roy here to your fate!"

"We can protect ourselves, sir. "

"You must forgive me for being so slow over my breakfast, Master Roy, "said the secretary, smiling in the lad's disgust-filled face. "I seeyou are impatient to go, but I am talking so much. "

"Oh, eat a good breakfast, " said Roy, now he was thus appealed to, "forthe last--"

"Oh, no! not by a great many, " said Master Pawson, smiling. "I like thedear old castle far too well, and I hope to have many a long year ofhappy days in it. It is very good of you, Lady Royland; but I hope Ican do my duty to Sir Granby like a man. You judge me by what I said atthe beginning of these preparations. I thought then that I was right. I did not believe we should be interfered with here; but I see now thatI was wrong, and I am ready to help you heart and soul. Do you think Icould go away at a time like this? Why, I should never forgive myself--never. It is impossible, Lady Royland; now isn't it, Roy? I'm not afighting man; nature never meant me for anything but music and books, but I'm not such a contemptible coward as all that. When the enemycomes and begins firing, I may be induced to go somewhere that I think_is_ safe; but go away? No, I could never hold up my head again. "

"Master Pawson, " cried Roy, excitedly, springing from his seat, "do youmean this?"

"Mean it, Roy?" said the secretary. "Why, of course. I promised SirGranby to do my duty by his dame and his son, and according to the bestof my powers. I'm going to do it, and--Well, that's a very nice raisedpie. "

"Here, I want to beg your pardon, Master Pawson, for all kinds ofunpleasant thoughts about you, " cried Roy, going round to the secretaryand holding out his hand, which the other took and held. 

"Do you?" he said, laughing. "Oh, no, there's no need. Boys generallyquarrel mentally with their teachers just out of want of knowledge. Iknow. You've called me old Pawson many a time--now, haven't you?--andsaid I was fat and soft and stupid, eh?"

The lad did not answer, but looked scarlet. 

"That's all right, Roy. I'm old enough to understand a little abouthuman nature. Don't you think I mind what a boy says or does in a fitof spleen. We shall understand one another better as time goes on. "

Then turning to Lady Royland, who stood there flushed and with her eyeshumid, he said, with grave respect, "I thank you, madam. It is onlywhat I should have expected from one of your good, considerate nature, and I shall never forget it. --There, Roy, " he said, "I am going back tomy room, and shall always be there when you want me. I stay therebecause I fear to be in the way, but I'll come and do anything you wishif I can be useful. But, please, " he added, with a comical look ofappeal, "don't ask me to buckle on a sword, to come and fight, nor yetto fire guns. I should be sure to shut my eyes when I pulled thetrigger, and waste the charge. Good-morning; I'm sorry I was so late. "

He made as if to go, but paused as Lady Royland took a step or twoforward and held out her hand, which he took and kissed respectfully. 

"Thank you, Master Pawson, " she said, with her voice low from emotion;"you have made everything seem brighter to us than it has looked fordays. I feel now that the world is not so cowardly and cruel as thisletter makes out that it was. I thank you. Sir Granby shall know ofyour noble conduct, and--"

"No, no! please don't say any more now, " cried the secretary, hurriedly;and he hastened to quit the room. 

"I am glad, " cried Roy, as the door was closed. 

"Glad!" exclaimed Lady Royland; "and I am sorry, Roy, that we shouldhave been so ready to misjudge. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

BEN MARTLET PROPOSES A SEARCH. 

The coming in of Farmer Raynes and his ten men had a capital effect uponthe people round. It was an example which soon bore fruit. After thefirst two or three attendances at the castle, they marched theretogether, with the farmer by them, in thorough military fashion, andwere followed by the people from the village, who would have gladly comeacross the moat had not the gate been clanged-to by the sentry of theday on duty, and then they had to content themselves with standinggazing across at the drilling and martial exercises which went on. Thefiring of the big guns--for all were tried in turn so as to see thatthey were serviceable--was a grand portion of the entertainment, and, inspite of secret adverse influences at work, the tenants on the estatesoon began to present themselves for enrolment in the little body, eagerto a man to don the castle uniform and bear arms; while the fact thatthe officer in command was a mere boy sent the lads of the neighbourhoodhalf-mad. In fact, day after day they came in pairs to offer themselvesfor enlistment, but only to go disappointed away; those who showed themost surprise at the refusal to accept their services being the veryyoung. 

"Why, bless my heart!" Farmer Raynes would say, with his broad, deepchuckle, "it would be like putting a 'stinguisher on a rush-light tostick a steel cap on some of those boys' heads. You'd be putting themout, Ben Martlet. "

"Ay, " said the old fellow, showing his teeth; "but a few would be usefulto go down the guns with a brush to clean them out. But there, I'm notgoing to laugh at the boys. Shows a good sperrit, Master Raynes, that Iwish more of the older folk would follow. "

"Ay, so do I, " said the farmer, frowning; "but they're some of 'emashamed and some afraid. Parson Meldew has a lot to do with it; and doyou know why?"

"Nay, not I; perhaps it's because her ladyship has been such a goodfriend to him. "

"Like enough. That sort's always the worst. He has such a poor livingthat it's my belief he's glad of the chance of a change. He thinks hemust be the better for it if it does come. I never much liked him; oldparson was the man. Why, if he'd been alive, he'd ha' been up hereevery day talking to the lads, and encouraging them to get on as well asthey could to fight for church and state like good men and true. Butyou'll have six more here to-day, good strong fellows from Marlow Mill. "

"Eh? You don't mean that?"

"Oh, yes, I do, " said the farmer. "I was over there with the wagon lastnight to get that load o' flour that I brought in this morning, and Igive them all a talking-to about how things are, and my lads showing upso in their coats and steel caps. It's of no use to bully 'em intocoming. They want coaxing, not driving. I hadn't been talking to 'emlong, 'fore they did exactly what I wanted, asking questions, and Ianswered 'em so that they wanted to know about sword-play, and loadingand firing the big guns; and then they wanted to know whether there werebuff coats and steel caps for all as liked to come and drill. When Itold 'em there was, lo and behold! they all found out that they wantedto do a bit of soldiering, and they'll be over soon. "

Farmer Raynes was quite right, for soon after, six sturdy young fellowscame slouching up in a sheepish way to stand watching the drilling withopen mouths, laughing and nudging one another as they recognised oldacquaintances, and were apparently ready to joke and sneer. That passedoff, however, in a few minutes, as they saw the goodly figure cut by thefarmer's men, and Raynes himself, no longer in the rough, flour-soiledattire, as they had seen him when fetching the meal-bags over-night, buta fine, bluff, gallant-looking fellow now, in buff coat, breastplate, headpiece, and glittering steel cap which flashed in the sunshine as hemarched half a dozen armed men into the gate-way, then through theguard-room and up to the ramparts, along which they were seen to have togo through a certain amount of practice with the big guns. 

Within an hour the martial ardour that was glowing in the would-berecruits' breasts was red-hot, and they asked leave to pass over thebridge. 

The sentry shook his head, but sent a messenger across to state themen's business, and they stood waiting, doubly impressed now, till theman returned with the order that they were to wait. This they did till, a few minutes later, sharp words of command were heard in the gate-way;and then, closely followed by Roy, gallant in bearing and in his Italianhalf-armour, gold and white scarf, gauntlets, and feathered felt hat, Sergeant Martlet came with the three troopers at a smart, elastic marchacross the drawbridge, which rattled and quivered to their tread, tillthey reached the outer gate, where, at the word of command, they werehalted, and stood at attention. 

Roy was on his mettle; his eyes glistening at the sight of the sixawkward-looking fellows, knowing as he did what a change a few days inthe hands of Ben and the troopers would effect; but he was growingstrong enough now to begin adopting the policy of making it a favour toadmit men to his chosen band. So he ruffled up like a young game-cock, to stand there glittering in the bright sunshine, with one gauntletedhand resting upon his hip, the other pressing down the hilt of his longsword. 

"Want to see me, my lads?" he said. 

There was a general whispering among the men as to who should speak, andat last one of them was shouldered forward with, "Go on, Sam; you sayit. "

Sam, the most sheepish of all, being thus thrust into prominence, wipedhis mouth with the back of his hand, took off his hat, made an awkwardbow, and thus delivered himself, with a smile:

"Morning, sir. You know me, Master Roy?"

"Eh? Oh, yes; Sam Donny, from the mill. What is it, my lad?"

"Only, sir, as me and my mates want to come and take sarvice here tofight for the king. "

"Eh? You? Well, I don't know, my lad; we only want good men and truehere, who will learn their duty, and do it. "

"Oh, that's just what we are, sir, " said the man, smoothing down hishair; "not one on us as'd go to sleep o' nights when the wind'sblowing. "

"Ah, but I don't want fellows to grind corn. I want men who will beready to fight, --yes, and like men. "

"Well, sir, ask all on 'em. I can fight, and lick any of the lot here. Oh, I can fight, and so can they. "

"Hum--ha, " said Roy, marching slowly round them, while the men drewthemselves up and seemed to grow a couple of inches taller each underthe inspection of the young captain. "What do you think, sergeant?" hecontinued; "think you can make artillerymen of 'em?"

Ben saluted, and took a few steps forward to march up and down theparty, slapping their chests, feeling their arms, and pounding themheavily. 

"Got some bone and muscle in 'em, sir, " he said, respectfully, as hisreport. "Might try if they mean it. "

"Take them across then to the armoury, measure them, and their names canbe enrolled. "

The men drew deep breaths of relief, and then grew nervous, for therewas a short command or two given, a couple of the troopers stepped totheir head, Ben and the corporal came up behind, and the little group ofsturdy fellows was marched across into the guard-room, and afterwardsinto the armoury, to stand gaping at the weapons of war. 

"Did I do that right?" said Roy, afterwards. 

"Right, sir. The very thing. Those sort judge by what they see. Theycame to us half ready to laugh, but they soon saw how serious it allwas; and they'll go away back to the mill to-night, and I'll be bound tosay, Master Roy, if you followed 'em, you'd find they'd got a dozenother fellows about 'em, talking to 'em and boasting and bragging abouthow grand everything is, and showing 'em their uniforms and steel caps. This has about done it. You'll see we shall get as many men as we wantnow. "

"But I felt all the time as if I were acting, " said Roy. 

"What? Look here, Master Roy, don't you go and say such a thing as thatagain. You weren't acting, and so I tell you; only doing your duty toyour king and country, and your father and mother into the bargain. Youcan't do fighting without a bit of show along with it to brighten it up. You ask a man whether he'd like to wear a feather in his cap, and a bito' scarlet and gold on his back, he'll laugh at you and say that suchthings are only for women. But don't you believe him, my lad; he won'town it, but he likes it all the same. "

Ben was right. For the next week men from the village and thesurrounding farms came up to the castle looking very serious andimportant, to be enrolled for its defence; and at the end of a fortnightthere were fifty defenders, of whom fully forty looked as if they couldbe depended upon, while the rest would serve to make a show. 

Meanwhile, Farmer Raynes attended the drilling and gun practice everymorning with his men, the whole gathering rapidly picking up therudiments of the military art under their four good teachers; while atnoon all, save about a fourth, went back to their peaceful vocations, but ready at the arranged-for signal of two guns fired from the castleto hurry back, every man to his post, to stay in garrison continuously, instead of doing so one day in four. 

Farmer Raynes devoted the rest of his time to going round and gatheringstores, --provender and forage of every kind that would be necessary, --and his wagons seemed to be always coming or going across thedrawbridge; while vaults and chambers in the castle which had remainedunused for generations were now packed as store-rooms and granaries. 

"Never mind the farm, Master Roy, " said the bluff fellow, one day; "itisn't quite going backward. "

"But the crops?" said Master Pawson, anxiously, for he was present. 

"Well, Master Pawson, they won't be so good as they should be, ofcourse, but they'll grow whether I'm there or no, and Sir Granby won'tmind. He's a rich gentleman with a beautiful estate. "

"Yes, yes, " said Master Pawson; "it is a beautiful estate. "

He looked quickly from the farmer to Roy, and back, as if he thought hehad said too much. 

"Ay, sir, it is a fine estate, and he's a lucky man who holds it. Hewon't mind a few things going wrong, so long as we take care to save itfrom some of the crop-eared rascals who'll be on the lookout to try andtake possession. I'll be bound to say that there's some of 'em smellingabout already, and making up their minds to make a grab at it if theking's crown goes down. "

"Surely--surely not, Master Raynes, " cried the secretary. 

"That's what I think, sir. There's them here wouldn't be above takingpossession of a pig, or a sack of my oats or barley; and there's biggerrogues who like bigger things, and would give their ears to get SirGranby's fine estate. You mark my words, Master Roy; you'll see. "

Roy did mark those words, thinking deeply of them during the followingbusy month, by which time the castle was in a fine state of defence, itslittle garrison of twelve or fourteen men, who kept watch and ward inregular military style, being relieved every day; while at the first badnews of danger, Roy was ready to summon his whole force from farm andmill, hoist the drawbridge, drop the portcullis, and with his stores ofprovisions set any beleaguering force at defiance, whether large orsmall. 

"There, sir, " said Ben one morning, "I begin to feel now as if I couldbreathe. There's a lot as wants doing yet, and I should dearly like todo away with that garden as spoils the court-yard, so as I could have aproper march round; but they won't come and catch us quite asleep. "

"No, Ben; you've done splendidly. It's wonderful to see what smartfellows you have made of the men. "

"Ay, and don't they know it too, sir?" said Ben, chuckling. "See theway they all marched past her ladyship this morning? There wasn't a manas didn't _feel_ as if he was twice as big as he was a month or two ago. And see those big lads looking on?"

"Yes; there were forty or fifty across the moat. "

"Ay, looking on as hungry as could be. Look here, Master Roy, I'mthinking a deal of getting say forty of 'em together--picked ones--assoon as I've more time, and knocking them into shape. "

"I think it would be wise, Ben. They'd do well to work the guns. "

"They would, sir; but we'll see. Any more news?"

"No, Ben; only rumours. "

"Master Pawson heard anything?"

"No, not for a long time past. But look here, Ben, we have got theplace in good order now, yet nothing has been done to see if there isany truth in the story about the secret passage leading into the oldchapel. "

Ben gave his head a punch. 

"No, sir; and yet I think of it every night just before I go off tosleep. It ought to be done, for it's of no use to keep polishing up apot that's got a big hole somewhere in the bottom. "

"Of course it is not, " said Roy. "Look here; when will you begin tosearch?"

"Let's hit while the iron's hot; sir, eh? You and I will go round andvisit all the sentinels to-night, and then, as we shall have a lantern, we'll begin. "

"Where?"

"Down under the north-west tower, sir. "

"And ask Master Pawson to go with us?"

"Nay, sir; we'll keep it all to ourselves. "

"But he will hear us about the steps, and opening and shutting doors. "

"But he mustn't, sir. I'll oil all the locks and the keys I have, andwe must smuggle our light under a big cloak. No, sir, we don't wantMaster Pawson with us; let him study his chirurgery and sewing of cuts, and stopping up bullet-holes. That'll do for him. This is a job forthe castellan and his head-sergeant, sir; and, if you'll take my advice, that's the order for the night. "

"Very well, Ben; that is the order for the night. "

"One word, sir. How is my lady getting on with the flag? That old oneis so tender like, I'm afraid it'll blow to pieces first time it'shoisted. "

"Getting on splendidly. "

"Big as the old one, sir?"

"Half as big again, Ben. "

"That'll do, sir. I believe in a big flag. It gives the men courage, and bullies the enemy. Now I really do begin to feel as if I couldbreathe. "

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

THE PASSAGE THAT IS TOO SECRET. 

"Going, Roy?" said Lady Royland to her son, as he rose from his seat inthe library that night about an hour after Master Pawson had gone to hisroom, retiring early on the plea of a bad headache. 

"Yes, mother; I'm going my rounds. "

Lady Royland sighed. 

"It seems very hard on you, my boy--all this work and watching. "

"Oh, I don't mind, " said the lad, smiling; "I've got used to it already. It makes everything go so regularly, and I feel sure that I have doneeverything to make the place safe. "

"But it is hard upon the sentries, who, but for this, would bepeacefully sleeping in their beds. "

"Do us all good, mother. Good-night. "

There was an affectionate embrace, and Roy went to his room, buckled onhis sword, put on his helmet, threw a large cloak over his shoulders, and then went down to the guard-room door in the great lower gate-way, to be challenged at once, and forced to give the word. 

A faint light shone out from the open door upon the military figure onduty, and Roy recognised in him one of the men from the mill, completelytransformed from the heavy plodding fellow who had come in to takeservice. 

But the challenge had brought out the old sergeant, also in a cloak, although it was a hot night, and within it he swung a lighted lantern. 

The drawbridge was up and the portcullis down, making the entrance lookblack and strange, and shutting off the outer gate, from which the dayguard was withdrawn, though this had not been accomplished withouttrouble and persuasion, for old Jenkin had protested. 

"Like giving up the whole castle to the enemy, Master Roy, " he said, with a full sense of the importance of his little square tower, andquite ignoring the fact that in the event of trouble he would beentirely cut off from his fellows if the drawbridge was raised. 

But the old man gave in. 

"Sodger's dooty is to 'bey orders, " he said; and with the fullunderstanding that he was to go back to his gate in the morning, he cameinto the guard-room to sleep on a bench every night. 

"How is old Jenk?" said Roy. 

"Fast asleep in his reg'lar place, " replied Ben, and he led the way backinto the gloomy stone guard-room, where he held up the lantern over thevenerable old fellow's face, and Roy looked at him thoughtfully. 

"Seems hard to understand it, Master Roy, don't it?" said Ben; "but ifwe lives, you and me'll grow to be as old as that. I expect to findsome morning as he's gone off too fast ever to wake up again. "

"Poor old fellow!" said Roy, laying his gloved band gently on the greyhead. "How fond he always was of getting me to his room when I couldonly just toddle, and taking me to the moat to throw bread to the carp. "

"Fished you out one day, didn't he, Master Roy!"

"To be sure, yes; I had almost forgotten that. I had escaped from thenurse and tumbled in. "

"Ah! he's been a fine old fellow, " said Ben. "I used to think he was agreat worry sticking out for doing this and doing that, when he wasn't abit of good and only in the way; but somehow, Master Roy, I began tofeel that some day I might be just as old and stupid and no more use, and that made me fancy something else. "

"What was that, Ben?" said Roy, for the old soldier had paused. 

"Well, sir, I began to think that I was growing into a vain old foolafter all, or else I should have seen that old Jenk was perhaps of moreuse here than I am. Can't you see, Master Roy?"

"I can't see what you mean, Ben. "

"Why, that old chap's about the finest sample of a reg'lar soldier thatthese young fellows can have. I believe if the enemy did come, that oldman would draw the sword that shakes in his weak old hand, and marchright away to meet 'em as bravely as the best here. "

"I'm sure he would, Ben, " said Roy, warmly. 

"Then he's one of our best men still, sir. Come on--I mean give theorder, sir, and let's go our rounds. "

Then, in the silence of the dark night, Roy led the way to the windingstair, and mounted silently to the ramparts, closely followed by Benwith the blinded lantern, and on reaching the top, they walked on to theleft to the south-west tower; but before they could reach it a firmvoice challenged them from the top. Then after giving the pass theywent on through the tower and out onto the western ramparts, turning nowto where the north-west tower loomed up all in darkness. 

"Master Pawson's abed, sir, " whispered Ben. 

"Yes; not well, " was the reply, in the same low tone. 

But there was no challenge from here, and Roy walked silently in at thearched door-way, passed the secretary's door, and mounted the stair toseverely admonish the sentry who was not keenly on the alert. 

"Don't let him off easy, Master Roy, " whispered Ben; "we might have beenan enemy, sir, for aught he could tell. "

This was spoken with the sergeant's lips to his young master's ear, anda few moments later Roy was at the top of the little turret, and stoodthere in the door-way ready to pounce upon the man whom he expected tofind asleep. 

But to his great satisfaction the sentry was well on the alert, for hewas kneeling at one of the crenelles, reaching out as far as he could, and evidently watching something away to the north, while all was sostill and dark that the movement of a fish or water-rat in the deep moatbelow sounded loud and strange. 

Roy stepped out silently, crossed the narrow leads, and stood looking inthe same direction as the sentinel; but he could make out nothing, andhe was about to speak when the man, who had suddenly divined hispresence, sprang up and clapped his hand to his sword. 

"Stand!" he cried, hoarsely. 

Roy gave the word, and Ben stepped out of the door-way to his side. 

"Why, sir, you quite scared me, " faltered the man; "I didn't hear youcome. "

"You should have heard, " said Roy, sternly. "What were you watchingthere?"

"That's what I don't know, sir. I see a light out yonder somewheresabout where them old stones is on the hill. And then I thought I heardtalking, but that's quarter of an hour ago. "

Both Roy and his companion had a good long look, but there was nothingto see or hear; and after admonishing the man to keep an eye upon theplace, they descended and visited the sentries on the north-east andsouth-east towers, to find them well upon the _qui vive_. 

After this they descended, and Ben led the way to the armoury, where heset the lantern on the table, took a spare candle from a box, and abunch of keys from a drawer. 

"May mean nothing, Master Roy; but I don't understand what light therecould be up nigh the old chapel ruins, nor who could be talking there atthis time of night. "

"Not likely to be anything wrong, Ben, because if they had been enemies, they would not have shown a light. "

"Signal perhaps, sir. "

"Well, they wouldn't have talked aloud. "

"Don't suppose they did, sir. Sound runs in a still, dark night likethis. Well, anyways it seems to me as it's quite time we had a goodlook round to see if there's a hole anywhere in the bottom of the pot, so if you're ready, so am I. Only say the word. "

"Forward!" cried Roy; and, going first with the lantern, Ben led the wayalong the corridor to the head of a flight of stone steps, down whichthey went to the underground passage, which with groined roof ran rightalong all four sides of the castle. The dark place seemed full ofwhispering echoes, as they went on past door after door leading intocellar and dungeon, all now turned into stores; for the great mass ofprovender brought in by Farmer Raynes's wagons had here been carefullypacked away, the contents of each place being signified by a white, neatly painted number, duly recorded in a book where the account of whatnumber so-and-so indicated was carefully written in Master Pawson's besthand, since he had eagerly undertaken the duties of clerk. 

At each corner of the castle basement, the passage expanded into acircular crypt with a huge stone pillar, many feet in diameter, in themiddle, from which radiated massive arches to rest on eight smallerpillars. This radial series of arches supported one of the towers, and, after passing the one to the north-east, Ben led on with his lanternalong the passage running to the tower at the north-west corner, the dimlight casting strange shadows behind, which seemed to be moving inpursuit of the two silent figures, urged on by the whispering echoes oftheir steps. 

The pavement was smooth and perfectly dry, as were the massive stonewalls; and as they went on, Roy fell into a musing fit, and thought ofwhat a strongly built place Royland castle was, and how in times ofemergency, if a garrison were hard pressed and had to yield rampart andtower to a powerful enemy, they would still have these passages andcrypts as a place of refuge from which, if a bold defence were made, itwould be impossible to dislodge them. 

Apparently mind does influence mind under certain circumstances, for, just as Roy had arrived at this point, Ben stopped short and turned. 

"Look here, Master Roy, " he said, "you ought, now we're getting inpretty good order, to do two things. "

"Yes; what are they?"

"Have that there stone gallows on the ramparts put a bit in order. Itwants a few stones and some mortar. "

"Why should I have that put in order?" said Roy, shortly. 

"Case you want to hang any traitors, sir, for giving notice to the enemyof what we're doing, or trying to open the gates to 'em. "

"I shall never want to hang any traitors, " said Roy, sternly. 

"I don't s'pose you will, sir; but it's just as well to let people seethat you could if you wanted to. Might keep us from having any. "

"I will not let the garrison see that I could have any such mistrust ofthe men who have come bravely up to help to protect my father'sproperty. "

"Well, Master Roy, that sounds handsome, and I like the idea of it: it'scheering-like to a man who tries to do his best. But all people don'tthink same as we do, and whenever we hear of a castle being attacked anddefended, there were always people outside trying to make traitors ofthose who were in, and temptation's a nasty, cunning, 'sinuating sort ofa thing. But you're castellan, and you ought to do as you please. "

"I will, Ben, over that, at all events. Fancy what my mother wouldthink if I were to be making preparations for such a horror. "

"Hum! yes, sir. What would she think? That's a queer thing, MasterRoy, isn't it, what a deal mothers have to do with how a man does, whether he's a boy or whether he's growed up?"

"Why, of course they have. It is natural. "

"Yes, sir; I suppose it is, " said the old soldier, as he went on. "Youwouldn't think it, perhaps, of such a rough 'un as me, and at my time o'life, but I never quite get my old woman out of my head. "

"I don't see how any one could ever forget his mother, " said Roy, flushing a little. 

"He can't, sir, " said Ben, sharply; "what she taught him and said alwayssticks to the worst of us. The pity of it is, that we get stoopid andashamed of it all--nay, not all, for it comes back, and does a lot ofgood sometimes, and--pst!--pst!--if we talk so loud we shall be wakingMaster Pawson. But I say, Master Roy, it won't do, really. Look atthat now!"

They were close to the circular crypt beneath the north-west tower, andBen was holding up his lantern towards the curve of the arches on hisleft. 

"Roots! coming through between the stones. "

"Yes, sir, that's it. Only the trees her ladyship had planted, andthat's the beginning of pulling this corner of the castle down. There'snothing like roots for that job. Cannon-balls'll do it, and prettyquickly too; but give a tree time, and it'll shake stone away fromstone, and let the water come in, and then the frost freezes it, andsoon it's all over with the strongest tower ever made. Do 'ee now askher to have 'em cut down, and the roots burned. "

"I'm not going to ask anything of the sort, Ben, " said Roy, shortly. "Now about this passage. You think it must run somewhere from here. "

"Yes, sir, " replied the old soldier, as he stood now under one of thearches of the crypt and raised his lantern to open a door. "There, nowwe can see a bit better. If there is such a place, it starts, Isuppose, from somewhere here. "

He walked slowly round the place, holding the lantern into the recesses, eight of which appeared between the pillars surrounding that in thecentre. 

"But there's plenty of room here for storing sacks or anything else, andyou can have doors made to those two that haven't got any, if you like. "

Roy walked into one of these recesses--cellar-like places of horse-shoecurve, going in a dozen feet, and then ending in a flat wall. 

"Which way am I looking here, Ben?" said Roy. 

"Out'ards, sir; you're standing about level with the bottom of the moat, or pretty nigh thereabouts. You're--yes--that's where you are, just atthe nor'-west corner, and the moat turns there. "

"Then the places on each side here face the moat, one to the north, theother to the west. "

"Well, not exactly, sir, but nearly. "

"Then the secret passage can't begin at the end of either of these, andbeen built up. "

"I dunno, sir. Folk in the past as had to do with them passages did allthey could to make 'em cunning. "

"But they couldn't have made a passage through the moat. "

"Of course not, sir; it must have gone under it. "

"Then it couldn't have started from here. "

"Why not, sir?" said Ben, with a low laugh; "what's to prevent therebeing another dungeon like this on the other side of the wall there, onewith a trap-door in it leading down ever so many steps into anotherplace, and the passage begin ten or twenty foot deeper. "

"Something like the powder-magazine is made?"

"That's it, sir. We're in the lower part of a big round tower, and weknow there's those floors above us one on top of the other, and we don'tknow that the old Roylands who built this place mayn't have dug down anddown before they started it, and made one, two, or three floors belowwhere we stand. "

"What? Dug right down? Impossible!"

"They dug down that time as deep into the old stone to make the bigwell, sir. "

"Of course; then it is possible. "

"Possible, sir? Oh yes; look at the secret passages there are in someold walls, made just in the thickness, and doors leading into 'em justwhere you wouldn't expect 'em to be. Up a chimney, perhaps, or a sideof a window. I heered tell of one as was quite a narrow door, just bigenough for a man to pass through, and you didn't walk into it, becauseit wasn't upright; but you got into it by crawling through a square holewith a thin stone door which fell back after you were through. Then youstood up, and could go half round the old house it was in. "

"Well, " said Roy, "if there is such a passage, we must find it; but ifit has been built up, we might have to pull half the place down. "

"Yes, sir; but first of all, we'll have a good look in these cellars, for it mayn't have been built up, and we may find it easily enough. Begin then, and let's try. "

Ben trimmed the candle with his forefinger and thumb, making the flamebrighter, and then holding the light close to the flat face of the wall, they examined stone after stone; but as far as they could make out, theyhad not been tampered with since the day the masons concluded theirtask. 

Then the curved walls right and left were examined quickly, as they werelittle likely to contain a concealed opening; lastly, the flags on thefloor, and, finally, Ben drew his sword and softly tapped each in turn. 

But not one gave forth a hollow sound. Everything was solid, even thewalls at the back. 

"Let's try the other open one, sir, " said Ben, and they continued theirinvestigations in this place, which was precisely similar to the first, and yielded the same results. 

Then the keys of the great bunch Ben carried were tried on onefast-closed door of oak, studded with square nails much corroded byrust, but it was not until the last key had been thrust in that with aharsh creaking the bolt of the ponderous lock shot back; and then itrequired the united efforts of both to get the door to turn upon therusty hinges. 

Here they were met by precisely the same appearances, and the search wasmade, and ended by sounding with the sword pommel. 

"No, sir; there's nothing here. "

"I'm afraid not, " said Roy; "everything sounds solid. "

"Ay, sir, and solid it is. "

"But if you tap so hard, Master Pawson will hear you, " whispered Roy, asthe old soldier tried the floor again. 

"Maybe not, sir; but if he do, he do. Let's hope now he's fast asleep;you see, he's three floors higher up. "

"But knocking sounds travel a long distance, Ben, and I'd rather he didnot know. "

"Me too, sir. Well, this is only three. Let's try the others. "

"I hope you are not going to have so much work with the finding of thekey, " said Roy; "it hinders us so. "

"Plenty of time before morning, sir, " replied Ben, coolly; and afterrelocking the heavy low door, he tried the key he had just withdrawnupon the next door, and, to the surprise of both, it yielded easily, andwas thrown open. 

Again the same clean, swept-out place, with plenty of grey cobwebs; butthat was all. 

Upon sounding the stones, however, at the back, they fancied that theydetected a suggestion of hollowness, still not enough to make Roydetermine to have the wall torn down. 

This place was locked and the next tried, the only satisfactory part ofthe business being that the key before used evidently opened all thelocks in the basement of this tower; and so it proved, as one after theother the dungeons or cellars were tried with the same unsatisfactoryresults, for none of the eight afforded the slightest trace of the clewthey sought. 

At last, pretty well tired out and covered with cobwebs, they stood inthe crypt while Ben lit a fresh candle, the first having burned downinto the socket, with the wick swimming in molten fat, and Roy said, with a yawn--

"I wonder whether there is a passage after all, or whether it is someold woman's tale. "

"Nay, sir, there is, " said the old soldier, solemnly. "Your father saidthere was, and he must have known. "

"Well, then, where is the door?" said Roy, peevishly. 

"Ah! that's what we've got to find out, sir. You're tired now, and nowonder. So let's try another night. You're not going to give a thingup because you didn't do it the first time. "

"I hope not, " said Roy, with another yawn; "but I am a bit tired now. Isay, Ben, though, think it's in one of the places we've filled up withstores?"

"I hope not, sir; that would be making too hard a job of it. "

"Stop a moment, " cried Roy, brightening up; "I have it. "

"You know where it is, sir?" cried Ben, eagerly. 

"Not this end, " said Roy, laughing, "but the other. "

"What, in the old ruins? Of course. "

"Well, why not go and find that, and then trace it down to here. Itwould be the easiest way. "

"There is something in that, sir, certainly, " said the old soldier, thoughtfully; "ever been there, sir?"

"Once, blackberrying; but of course I never saw anything; only a rabbitor two. "

"Then if we can't find it here after a good try or two, sir, we'll havea walk over there some evening, though I don't feel to like the idea ofleaving the place, specially as all the gentry seem so unfriendly. Nota soul, you see, has been to see her ladyship. Looks bad, Master Roy, and as if there was more going on than we know of round about us. "

"Ah, well, never mind that, " said Roy; "let's get back out of thischilly, echoing place. I'm fagged. "

"We'll go back this way, sir, " said Ben; and he went on first with thelantern, till he came to one of the flights of stone steps leading up tothe ground level. 

"Let's go on here, Ben, " said Roy; and, upon their reaching the corridorabove, the boy looked back along it towards where the stairs went upinto the corner tower, beneath which they had been so busy. 

"Wonder whether Master Pawson heard us, Ben. "

"Can't say, sir. I should fancy not, or he'd have been on the stir toknow what was the matter. "

"Mightn't have cared to stir in the dark, Ben. I say, I should like toknow. Look here, he went off early to bed, because he said he wasunwell. I'll go and ask how he is. That's a good excuse for seeing. "

"Well, so it is, sir, " said Ben, rubbing his ear; "and if he did hearanything, he'd be pretty sure to speak. "

"Of course. Then I will go. Come and light me. " Roy hurried alongback with Ben following and casting the boy's shadow before him, tillthey reached the arched door-way, where they went up the few stone stepsin the spiral staircase, reached the oaken door leading into theapartments, felt for the latch, raised it, and gave it a loud click; butthe door did not yield to the boy's pressure, and he tried it again, andthen gave it a shake. "Why, he has locked himself in, Ben!"

"Has he, sir? Didn't want to be 'sturbed, maybe. "

"Perhaps he was frightened by the noise we made, and then fastenedhimself in, " said Roy, with a laugh. 

Ben chuckled at the idea. 

"Well, sir, not the first time we've frightened him, eh?"

"Hush! I want to let him know who it is now knocking, " said Roy; "it isstartling to be woke up in the middle of the night. Master Pawson--Master Pawson!" he said, gently; and he tapped lightly with his fingers. 

But there was no reply, and Roy tapped and called again, but stillwithout result. 

"He's too fast asleep to hear you, sir. "

"Well, he ought to bear that, " said Roy, giving the door a good rattle, and then tapping loudly. 

"One would think so, sir; but he don't seem to have his ears very wideopen, or else he's too much scared to stir. "

"Master Pawson! Master Pawson!" cried Roy, loudly now; and he once morerattled the door. "How are you?"

"Fast as a church, sir, " said Ben; "and I wouldn't rattle no more, because you'll be having the sentry up atop after us. Better go andspeak to him, or he'll be raising the guard. "

Ben went up on the winding stair, and spoke to the sentry, whochallenged him as he reached the top, and was much relieved on hearinghis sergeant's voice. 

"Didn't know what to make of it, " he said; "and I should have fired, only my piece wouldn't go off. "

"Well, let this be a lesson to you, my lad, to keep your firelock inorder. "

"Yes, sergeant; I will in future. "

"We might have been the enemy coming. See any more of that light, orhear any more noise over yonder?"

"No, nothing. "

"Not heard nothing from Master Pawson, I suppose?"

"Not since he came up and spoke to me before he went to bed. Said hishead was queer or something--spoke mighty pleasant, and that he wassorry for me who had to watch all night. "

"Well?"

"That was all; only I said I was sorry for him having such a bad head. "

Ben went down to where Roy was waiting in the secretary's door-way. 

"Can't wake him, Ben. Come along; I am tired now. "

"Feel as if an hour's sleep wouldn't do me much harm, sir, " said the oldsoldier; and they went on along the corridor, whose windows looked outupon the pleasaunce. "Master Pawson's in the right of it. Once a man'swell asleep, it's a woundy, tiresome thing to be wakened up. Good-night, sir. "

"Good-morning, you mean, Ben, " said Roy, laughing. 

"Oh, I calls it all night till the sun's up again, sir. You and me'llhave to try the old ruins, I s'pose, though I don't expect we shall findanything there. "

Roy went straight to his room, half undressed, and threw himself uponthe bed, to begin dreaming directly that he had discovered the entranceto the secret passage at the other end, but it was so blocked up withstones and tree-roots that there was no way in, and would not be untilhe had persuaded his mother to do away with the garden, cut down thetrees, and turn the place back into a regular court-yard such as old Benwished. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

FARMER RAYNES BRINGS NEWS. 

It was the loud blast of a trumpet which roused Roy from his slumbers tofind that it was a gloriously clear morning, and that the call wasbringing the little garrison together for the early parade. 

The trumpeter was the youngest of the three men from his father'sregiment, and consequently the call rang out in the true martial style, echoing through the garden court, and sounding exhilarating to the boyas he sprang off his bed and began to dress. 

It roused the jackdaws, too, from their resting-places, and sent themsailing about in the clear sunny air, their black forms reflected fromthe moat, and their sharp, petulant cries sounding like protests againstthis disturbance. 

For they had had a hard time of it lately. Under Ben's superintendenceevery loop-hole had been cleared, every collection of nesting ruinscarefully removed, and they had no other married quarters but the holesin the walls, half-shaded by the green pellitory which rooted andflourished in company with the moss, that acted as sponges to retainenough moisture for its sustenance. 

Roy was not long in dressing, buckling on his sword, and hurrying downto the tiny parade ground, for in his character of castellan he liked tobe present every morning when the men who were to relieve the garrisonassembled at the gate-way, across the moat, and waited for permission tomarch in. 

All this was rigorously carried out in true military style by the oldsergeant's management; and as Roy descended, it was to find the littlegarrison drawn up fully armed under Ben's command, he and the threetroopers forming the regular staff who never left the castle. 

Ben looked as fresh as if he had not made a night's rest out of twohours on a form in the guard-room; and giving the word as Roy appeared, there was the twinkling and glittering of headpiece and weapon as themen presented arms, and then stood again at attention as it was carriedout some two hundred and fifty years ago. 

Then a short inspection by the castellan followed, orders were given, and four men marched to the door-way, tramped up the staircase, and afew minutes later the ponderous drawbridge began to descend, till itspanned the moat; and at a word the men fresh from their homes marchedacross, to halt by the portcullis, which then began to rise slowly, thecapstans creaking and cracking, till the row of spikes alone was visibleas they hung like iron stalactites overhead. 

Another sharp order rang out, and the new-comers filed into theguard-room, from whence came the clashing of metal and the buzzing ofvoices as the men assumed their arms and came out one by one to fall inopposite to those whose places they were to take, and who would, in afew minutes, go into the guard-room to deposit their arms in the racks, and then be free till their short term of service recommenced, but ofcourse ready to hurry to the castle at the first summons should anecessity arise. 

Everything went on according to the regular routine; the fresh men wereall drawn up now, armed, the order given, and the relieved tramped intothe guard-room and soon began to straggle out again, eager to troop overto a kind of buttery-hatch by the great kitchen, where a mug of milk anda hunch of bread for a refresher would be waiting for distribution, byLady Royland's orders, for every man. 

All this went on then as usual, and the old warder Jenkin had just cometottering out of the guard-room, to go and take up his customary post atthe gate, the trumpeter had raised his instrument to his lips to blow ablast, and the new-comers were ready to march off to their severalduties of mounting guard, drilling at the guns, and cleaningaccoutrements, when there was the sound of hoofs rapidly beating theroad across the moat, and directly after a figure, mounted upon a heavycart-horse, came into sight, thundering along at full gallop. At thefirst glimpse it seemed as if the horse had run away with his bareheadedrider; but directly after it became plain that, though only ridingsaddleless, and with no rein but a halter, the big man was urging thehorse forward with all his might. 

"Why, it must mean news!" said Roy, excitedly, as he advanced towardsthe drawbridge. 

"Ay, there's something wrong, sir, " said Ben, gravely. "That we shallsoon hear. "

The armed men stood fast on one side, and those disarmed in a group onthe other, waiting excitedly to see what this new thing meant. 

"It's Farmer Raynes!" cried Roy. 

"Ay, sir, that's who it be. He was coming with a wainload of oats thismorning, and he wants help, for he has broken down, I should say. "

The next minute the rider dashed up to the far gate, but did not drawrein, for he sent his horse thundering across the drawbridge before hechecked the panting beast with a loud "_woho_!" and then threw himselfoff. 

"What's the matter, Master Raynes?" cried Roy. 

"They're here, sir, " whispered the bluff farmer, excitedly. "I'd got awagon loaded with oats last night, and was taking 'em from Dendry Townto the farm ready for bringing on here i' morning, when at a turn of thelane I come upon a troop of horse who surrounded the wagon at once, anda couple of 'em led me, whip and all, up to their officer, alank-looking, yellow-faced fellow, who was sitting on his horse justunder a tree. 

"`Where are you taking that grain?' says he. 

"`On the king's service, ' says I. `To Royland Castle. '

"His yellow wrinkly face grinned all over, and he turned and gave ordersto an officer by him; and then I knew I'd made a mistake. For they wereall well-mounted, and in a regular trooper's uniform, and I thought I'dhappened upon one of the king's regiments, instead of which they were apack of Roundhead rabble; and I had to drive the team back with the oatsto their headquarters at Dendry Town. There they made me open a sack tofeed their horses; and after that I was told I was a prisoner, and thatmy wagon and team was taken for the use of the state. "

"Dendry Town--ten miles away, " said Roy, thoughtfully. 

"Many on 'em?" said Ben, sourly. 

"There was about fifty as took me, " said the farmer; "and I should saythere were seven or eight hundred in the town swarming all over theplace. "

"But how did you get away, Raynes?"

"Left it till this morning, sir, when I was feeding my horses, afteremptying a couple of sacks for theirs. Waited till there was a chance, and then I jumped on old Ball here, who can go like fun when he getswarm, and galloped off. They shot at me, and I heard the bulletswhistle, and then about a dozen came in pursuit, galloping after me tillwe got within sight of the towers; and then they drew back, and here Iam. I thought you ought to know somehow that the enemy was so near. "

"Then they're not a mere rabble of men?"

"Not they, sir. Reg'lar soldiers, and they've got big guns in themarket-place. Quite a little army. "

"Thank you, Raynes, " said Roy, gravely. "It was very good and brave ofyou to bring the news like this. Halt there, men. Take your armsagain. We shall perhaps have some work to do. " Then briefly giving hisorders, which had long enough before been arranged between him and Ben, the latter led one little party to the south-west tower, and thecorporal took another to the north-west, while Roy himself mounted witha party into the gate tower, where at his word of command the portcullisdropped with a loud clang, and directly after the drawbridge began torise till it was back in the position it always occupied by night. 

This part of the business of preparation for unwelcome visitors beingaccomplished, Roy mounted to the leads, where he placed a sentry to keepa good lookout, and then turned to see if his men were ready. 

They stood in a group on each tower waiting, Ben and the corporalswinging a port-fire from time to time to keep it well in a glow; andthen standing on the breastwork above the machicolations, Roy looked outas far as he could see in search of enemies, where, however, all lookedbeautiful and at peace. 

But it could be no false alarm. The time for action had come; and, turning to the right, he waved his hands, turned to the left, and didlikewise; and directly after a puff of grey smoke darted out from thetop of each tower, followed by two rapidly succeeding peals likethunder, which echoed through the castle, making the jackdaws fly out oftheir resting-places to wheel round, crying vociferously. 

"Now, " said Roy to himself, "the staff is ready. It's time to raise theking's flag. "

But the flag was still in Lady Royland's hands, and the boy descended tocross to her private apartments and fetch it away. 

But half-way across the pleasaunce he encountered Master Pawson, lookingwild-eyed, pale, and strange. 

"What is the matter?" he cried. "What is that firing for?"

"The enemy are near, Master Pawson, " said Roy, quietly; "and I supposethat before long they will pay us a visit. "

"But the guns--why were the guns fired?"

"As a signal, of course, for our men to gather, and for such of thevillage people as like to take refuge here. I thought you knew. "

"I? No. I did not know. But the people will not come, " said thesecretary, with undue excitement; and he now looked very pale indeed. 

"It will be rather hard, though, if they do not, after all this drillingand teaching. "

"Oh! those men may, " said the secretary, hastily. "I meant the peoplefrom the village. "

"Well, we shall see, " said Roy. 

"But what makes you say that the enemy are near?" said the secretary, giving him a searching look. 

"The messenger who brought the news. Farmer Raynes. "

"Farmer Raynes?"

"Yes; he was taken and escaped. "

At that moment Ben came up with a grim look of satisfaction upon hiscountenance. 

"Morning, sir, " he said to the secretary. "You see the enemy have foundus out. Ready for them?"

"I? What do you mean?"

"Ready to doctor some of us as gets our heads and legs knocked off bycannon-balls. I beg pardon, Master Roy, sir, her ladyship'sa-signalling to you yonder. What does she say to the enemy coming?"

"My mother!" said Roy, excitedly, as he caught sight of her at one ofthe corridor windows. "I have not seen her yet. "

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

ROYLAND CASTLE AFTER ITS GROWL. 

Lady Royland received the news calmly enough, and was the first toallude to the flag, which she said would be, though unfinished, suitableenough to hoist whenever her son thought it right to do so. 

"The sooner, then, the better, I should say, mother, " cried Roy. "Letthem see it waving when they come near. "

"By all means, my boy. I am glad to find that you have everything in sogood a state of preparation. The guns startled me a little, but Iexpected to hear them some time. Do you think the men will prove trueand come in?"

"True, mother? Yes, of course. "

A few minutes later Roy came out with the silken flag hanging in foldsacross his arm like a cloak, and hurried to where Ben and the threetroopers were busy loading the two guns, run out now into the gate-wayso as to command the road from each side of the raised bridge. 

The men were all armed, and a look of excitement was in every face, notably in that of Farmer Raynes, who was fidgeting about and lookinganxious. 

Roy handed the flag to Ben, who took it proudly, and nodded hissatisfaction. 

"You'll come up and be there at the hoisting, sir?" he said. 

"Of course. Yes--what is it?"

"Master Pawson, sir, " whispered the old soldier, with a laugh; "wemanaged to wake him up at last. "

Roy smiled and went to where the farmer stood, watching him anxiously, and finally making a sign to him to come. 

"Want to speak to me, Master Raynes?" he said. 

"Yes, sir; I'm in agonies about my men. They'll be coming along soonand falling into a trap, for some of those troopers will be hangingabout the road. "

"Yes, this is serious, " said Roy, who grasped the difficulties of thereinforcements he hoped soon to receive. 

Ben was called into counsel, and his suggestion was that the guns on thefour towers should be manned ready to cover the advance of the friends, and keep back the enemy. 

"Mounted men's orders are to keep clear of cannon-shot all they can, sir; and now, if you please, I should like you to arm all the peoplenecessary, while I see to the ammunition. "

This order was carried out, and the flag taken up into thefurnace-chamber, just below where the new flag-staff with halyard hadbeen erected against the staircase turret. 

In a very short time all was ready, so far as so small a force wasavailable, and four men kept ready in the chamber prepared to lower thebridge as soon as any friends approached, when it was to be kept downtill the coming of strangers rendered it necessary that it should beraised again. 

Ten minutes had not elapsed before a shout from the north-east tower washeard, and Roy turned in the direction pointed out by one of the men, tosee a little party of four men who, in obedience to the signal, wereadvancing at a trot from the direction of the village. 

The bridge was lowered, the portcullis raised, and, as the men camehurrying across, they were received with a hearty cheer from the tinygarrison. 

The bridge being down and the portcullis raised, the state ofpreparation was deemed sufficient to warrant their remaining so, as noenemy was in sight; but the precaution was taken of having theport-fires ready and each gun in the gate-way manned so as to sweep theapproach. 

Another shout announced fresh arrivals, men coming up in twos andthrees, every arrival sending a thrill of satisfaction through the youngcastellan's breast as he felt his strength increase, till only twoparties were not accounted for, --six men from the mill and the ten fromthe farm. 

"A terrible loss they would be, Ben, " said Roy, as he swept the countryfrom the highest point of the tower, and without effect. "Raynes wantsto go in search of them. "

"Then don't let him, sir. We can't spare him. Mightn't be able to comeback. Wait a bit; they've all got some distance to come. Give 'emtime. "

"But they might have been here by now. "

"Ay, they might, sir, " said Ben, drily. 

"Ha! you think they are afraid, now it comes to the pinch. "

"Nay, sir, not yet. They may have a good way round to go to 'scape theenemy, for I dare say they're beginning to occupy the roads. I'm mostanxious about the farm lads, for they're nighest to where the enemyare. --Hi! there! Look! look!"

Ben had turned his head in a different direction to that in which themen from the mill might have been expected to come; and there, altogether, running in a group, six figures could be seen evidentlymaking for the castle, while a party of a dozen horsemen suddenly rodeinto sight from behind a copse about a quarter of a mile away, andcantered across as if to head the men off. 

"Now, sir, quick! Tell 'em yonder to make ready and wait. Thecorporal's there, and he'll know what to do. "

Roy shouted the orders to the south-west tower, and the trooper-corporalanswered loudly, and they saw him blow his port-fire. 

"Now, sir, wait a bit, till they get nigher. That's it. Now, fire!"

The race had been growing exciting, for the horsemen were increasingtheir pace as they came on with their weapons glittering in the sun, andit was plain enough that the runners must be cut off and takenprisoners, when just at the right moment Roy's order rang out. Therewas a white puff from the tower, a heavy boom, the ball went whistlingjust over the heads of the horsemen, and a shout of triumphant derisionarose from the towers, as, moved by the same spirit, the little troopwheeled round and went off at full gallop to get out of gunshot. 

"Another shot, men!"

"Nay, sir, certainly not. That's the young soldier speaking. What for?You might bowl over a horse or two, but what good would that do?You've done what you wanted, and sent 'em to the right-about, saved sixof our lads, and at the same time showed those fellows that we're on thelookout and don't mean to stand any nonsense. That's enough for onebullet, sir, eh?"

"Splendid! my lads, " cried Roy, who leaned over the battlements, wavinghis hand to the panting and nearly exhausted men from the mill, who cameat a steady trot now across the bridge, cheered loudly by all who couldsee them. 

Roy's next thought was to go and tell Lady Royland all about theincident; but he felt that he must live up to his position, and be busythere in sight of his men; so, after watching the enemy's horse tillquite out of sight, he bade Ben keep a sharp lookout, and descended tohear the report of the party who had just come in. 

He found them in the guard-room, scarlet with exertion, and stillpanting from their long race, but evidently in high glee, Sam Donny, their spokesman, the young man who was put first to the front when theycame to him, being full of their adventures, --how the troopers hadpassed the mill three times that morning, and stopped twice to demandcorn for their steeds and water, their leader watching the miller's mencuriously as if suspicious of them. 

"But they went off at last, sir. Let's see: they come agen, though, twice after we'd heard the guns, and that kep' us back. Last of all, Isays to t'others, `Now for it, lads, or young Captin Roy'll be thinkingwe're feared to come. ' They says, `That's so, ' and off we starts; butwe hadn't gone far 'fore we finds they're on the road, and we had to runback and make for Water Lane. Hadn't gone far 'long Water Lane, when wefinds a couple of 'em there. Back we goes again, and creeps along asideone of the fields, and there they was again, and dozens of 'em on thewatch, as if some one had told 'em we was likely to come over here. Then we all goes back to the mill and talks it over, and some on us saysas we'd better stop till night; but I says, `Nay! They'll think we'reall cowards, and get shooting at us if we comes in the dark, ' and atlast we said we'd go two miles round by the common. And so we did, sir, crawling on our stummicks in and out among the furze bushes, and everynow and then seeing the sun shine on one of their caps as they rode hereand there. 

"Last of all, sir, they seemed to have gone away, and I lifts up my headand looks about. `All clear, mates!' I says, and up we gets, keepingas far off as we could, so as to work round. `We've done 'em thistime, ' I says, as we went on, and we was coming along splendid, till BobHerries happens to look back, and, `Run, lads, ' he says; `here they comearter us!' I was for hiding, sir, but there was no chance, so we allrun our best, with the castle here seeming a long way off; but we gotnigher and nigher, and so did they; and they'd ha' cut us off if ithadn't been for that gun--though we all thought the next shot might hitus. "

"You did bravely, my lads, " cried Roy. "But tell me, what about the menfrom the farm?"

"What! aren't they here, sir?" said the man. 

"No; we've seen nothing of them. "

"Well, I am glad, then, that we aren't the last, " said the man, with agrin of satisfaction; but his face was serious directly. "I don't quitemean that, sir. I mean I'm sorry they're not here. Then some of thosefellows must have took them. But what I want to know is, how could theytell we was a-coming to the castle?"

"They must have noticed that you all had a military bearing, my lad. You are all very different to what you were when you came to join. "

A look of pride beamed in the man's face and was reflected in those ofhis companions, but he spoke out directly. 

"Well, we have tried to get to be soldiers, sir, hard; haven't us, mates?"

"Ay!" was growled in chorus. 

"Yes, you have done well, " cried Roy, "and I'm heartily glad to see yousafely here. "

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

THE YOUNG CASTELLAN SPEAKS OUT. 

The day passed anxiously on, and it was getting well towards sunset, butthere was no sign of the farm men, neither did the enemy appear insight. Farmer Raynes appealed to Roy again and again for permission togo in search of his people; but, anxious as the young castellan was fornews, he could not risk losing one of the strongest and most dependablemen he had. 

"They may get here yet, Master Raynes, " he said; "and I'd give anythingto see them; but I'd rather lose the swords of all ten than lose yours. "

"Mean that, Master Roy?" said the bluff farmer, looking at himsearchingly. 

"Mean it? Of course!"

"Thank ye, sir. Then I'll stop; but I feel as if I'd failed you at apinch by only coming alone. "

"Then don't think so again, " said Roy, "but help me all you can with themen, for I'm afraid we are going to have a hard fight to save theplace. "

"Oh, we'll save it, sir. Don't you fear about that, " said Raynes; andhe went away to join Ben and talk about the chances of the partyreaching the castle. 

In the guard-room the matter was also eagerly discussed; for the help often sturdy lads was badly needed, as all knew. Sam Donny, who wasrather inflated by the success which had attended him and his companionsthat day, gave it as his opinion that the labourers had been takenprisoners solely because they had not thought to go down and crawl as heand his companions had that day. 

Roy had hurriedly snatched a couple of meals, and tried to cheer hismother about their prospects, but to his surprise, he found that she wasready to try and console him about the loss of ten good strong men. 

"But do you think they have thought better of it, and are afraid to comein?" said Master Pawson at their hurried dinner. 

"No, I do not, " said Roy. "I will not insult the poor fellows bythinking they could be such curs. "

"Quite right, Roy, " said the secretary, eagerly. "I was wrong. I'mafraid I understand books better than I do men. Yes; they must havebeen taken prisoners, I'm afraid. "

The evening meal had just been commenced when there was a shout from oneof the towers. 

Roy hurried out, full of hope that the ten men had been descried; but hewas soon undeceived, for on mounting to his favourite post ofobservation it was to see that a long line of horseman was approachingfrom the direction of Dendry Town, the orange sunlight making their armsglitter as they came gently on, spreading out to a great length, till atlast Ben gave it as his opinion that there were at least five hundredmen. 

Hardly had he come to this conclusion when another body of men wasdescried approaching from the east, and in the face of this danger thedrawbridge was raised, the portcullis lowered, and a trumpet-callsummoned the men to the guns. 

"They mean it then to-night, Ben, " said Roy, whose heart now beat fast, and he turned to the old soldier, who, with a grim look of pride in hisface, was affixing the silken flag to the rope, ready for hauling upwhen the enemy drew near. 

Before Ben could reply, to Roy's surprise, Lady Royland came up thespiral stairs, and stepped out upon the leads, followed by MasterPawson, who looked sallow of aspect, but perfectly calm. 

"You here, mother?"

"Yes, my boy; and why should I not be? I am visiting all the towers tothank the men for their brave conduct in coming here for our defence. How many do you muster now?"

"Thirty-six only, " replied Roy. 

"Well, thirty-six brave men are better than five hundred cowards. --Howmany men do you think there are coming against us, Martlet?"

"Seven or eight hundred, my lady. "

"And will they attack this evening?"

"No, my lady; they don't come to attack strongholds with mounted men. They're coming to call upon us to throw open the gates and surrender theplace; and this is the answer, I think, my lady, is it not?" and hepointed to the flag. 

"Yes, Martlet, " said Lady Royland, flushing; "that is our answer to suchan insolent demand. "

She turned and left the tower, attended by Master Pawson, and Royremained there watching the long line of mounted men approaching withtheir arms glittering in the light. "Seven or eight hundred, " he said, half aloud, "against thirty-six. "

"Haven't counted the guns, Master Roy, nor the moat, nor the towers, norall the other strong things we have. Pah! what's a regiment of horseagainst a place like this? But they know, and they're only coming tobully us, sir. "

"I hope you are right, Ben, " said the lad, seriously; and he waited forthe approach of the men till they were halted about a couple of hundredyards away from the tower on which he stood, forming up in squadrons;and after a time an officer, bearing a little white flag, advanced, followed at a short distance by a couple of troopers. Roy's heart beatfast, for he felt that a crucial time had come. 

"You'll have to go down, Master Roy; and we must lower the bridge foryou to go out and meet him and hear what he has to say. "

"Must I, Ben?"

"Of course, sir; and, if you give the order, the corporal and I willcome behind you as your guard. "

"And suppose, when the bridge is down, the others make a rush?"

"Flag o' truce, sir. But if they did, our guns would sweep 'em away. "

"And what about us, Ben?"

"Well, sir, " said the old fellow, drily, "we should be swep' away too. "

"I say, Ben!"

"Yes, sir, sounds nasty; but soldiers has to take their chance o' thatsort o' thing, and look at the honour and glory of it all. Ready, sir?"

"Yes, " said Roy, in a husky voice; and a minute later he stood with thetwo martial-looking figures behind, and the drawbridge slowly descendedin front. The two guns were manned, a small guard of three was behindeach, and the port-fires sparkled and shot tiny little flashes of fireas if eager to burst out into flame. 

Just then, as Roy was watching the heads of the three mounted men comingslowly forward, and, as the end of the bridge sank, seeing their chests, the horses' heads, and finally their legs come into sight, Ben leanedtowards him, and said, in a whisper--

"They don't know how young you are, sir. Let 'em hear my dear oldcolonel speaking with your lips. "

"Yes, " said Roy, huskily; "but what am I to say, Ben?"

"You don't want no telling, sir. Advance now. "

The officer had halted his men about fifty yards from the outer gate, and rode forward a few paces before drawing rein and waiting for someaction on the part of those he had come to see; and he looked rathersurprised as they stepped forward now, crossed the bridge, and advancedto meet him. For he had not anticipated to find such carefulpreparations, nor to see the personage who came to meet him in soperfect a military trim, and supported by a couple of soldiers whosebearing was regular to a degree. 

The officer was a grim, stern, hard-looking, middle-aged man, and hisgarb and breastplate were of the commonest and plainest description. Heseemed to glance with something like contempt at the elegantly flutedand embossed armour the boy was wearing, and, above all, at the gay sashLady Royland's loving hands had fastened across his breast. But hisattention was keen as he scanned the soldierly bearing of Ben and thecorporal, and a feeling of envy filled his breast as he compared themwith his own rough following. Perhaps he would not have thought so muchif he had seen the rest of the garrison, but they were too distant. 

Roy saluted the officer, and drew a deep breath as he tried to string uphis nerves till they were stretched like a bow. For Ben's words hadgone home, and he felt fully how big a part he had to play. 

The officer saluted in response in a quick, abrupt manner, and saidshortly:

"I come from the general commanding the army here in the west, to demandthat you give up peaceable possession of this castle, once the propertyof the rebel, Sir Granby Royland, who is now in arms against theParliament of England. "

Roy gave a start at the word "rebel, " and felt the hot blood rise to hischeeks. That insult acted like a spur. The nervous trepidation hadgone, for there was no room for it alongside of the anger which flashedthrough him. Ben was right: the boy knew what to say. It was thereready, and only wanted bringing out. 

"Look here, sir!" he cried, sharply; "you come here under a flag oftruce to deliver a message, but that does not warrant insolence. "

"Insolence?" said the officer, sternly. 

"Yes. I hold no parley with a man who dares to call my father, KingCharles's faithful servant, a rebel. "

"Then go back, boy, and send your mother to make the arrangement forhanding over the keys of the castle, " said the officer, with a smile ofcontempt, "for I suppose the Dame Royland is here. "

"Lady Royland is here, sir; and I, her son, tell you to inform yourrebel general that we here recognise no authority but that of hismajesty the king, and that we consider it a piece of insolentbraggadocio for him to send such a demand. "

"Indeed!" said the officer, laughing. "Well crowed, young game-cock!"

"Yes, " muttered Ben; "and you mind his spurs. "

"Have you anything more to say?" cried Roy. 

"Yes; a good deal, my boy, and I will not notice your young, hot-bloodedwords. You have allowed your men to perform an act this morning thatmay mean serious consequences for you. "

"I do not understand your meaning, sir. "

"Yes, you do, boy, " said the officer, sternly. "You allowed your men tofire upon a picket of our cavalry. "

"Of course. You allowed your cavalry, as you term them, to try and ridedown six unarmed men on their way to the castle, and I gave orders forthem to be stopped, and they were stopped. "

"I have no time to argue these things with you, sir. I have only thisto say: if you give up the keys to me at once, your people can disperseunharmed to their homes, and Dame Royland and her son can depart withsuch personal effects as she desires, to go wherever she pleases, and anescort will be provided for her protection. "

"And, if she declines this offer, sir, as my father's steward of hisestates and possessions?"

"Your father has neither estate nor possessions now, my boy; he is aproclaimed rebel. If this kindly offer is refused, and you are both soweak and vain as to resist, the place will be battered down and left inruins, while the sufferings and slaughter of your people will be at yourdoor. Now, sir, briefly, what message am I to take back to thecommanding officer?"

"God save the king!" cried Roy, warmly. 

"That is no answer, sir--only the vain cry of an enthusiastic, misledboy. What am I to say to the general in chief?"

"That Lady Royland will hold Royland Castle in the king's name as longas one stone stands upon another, and she has a brave following tofight. "

The officer raised his hand in salute, turned his horse and rode back, while Roy stood there with his heart throbbing as he watched the threefigures depart, and wondered whether it was really he who had spoken, orall this scene in the deepening evening were part of a feverish dream. 

He was brought back to the present by the deep gruff voice of Ben. 

"There, sir, " he said, with a look of pride at the boy in whose traininghe had had so large a share, "I knew you could. "

At the same moment Roy glanced at the corporal, who smiled and salutedhim proudly. 

"I only wish, sir, " he said, "that the colonel had been here. "

Roy turned to recross the bridge, feeling as if, in spite of all, thiswas part of a dream, when something on high began to flutter over thegreat gate tower, and glancing up, it was to see there in front, gazingdown at them as she leaned forward in one of the embrasures, LadyRoyland. 

"What is it to be, Roy?" she cried, as he came closer. "Peace or war?"

"War!" he replied, sternly; and the sound seemed to be whispered in manytones through the great archway as the portcullis fell with its heavyclang and the drawbridge began to rise. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

WAR TO THE KNIFE. 

War to the knife without a doubt, for in the gathering gloom of theevening, as Roy went up to the top of the north-west tower, followed byMaster Pawson, it was to see that mounted men were in a goodly bodymaking a complete circuit of the castle, roughly marking out a lineabout half a mile in diameter, and at every hundred yards or so a coupleof troopers were halted, and retained their posts. 

"Shutting us in, Master Pawson, " said Roy, after watching the manoeuvrefor some time. 

"Ah!" said the secretary, with a sigh; "they will patrol the country allround now, and stop communications with the outside. "

"Yes, " said Roy, frowning; "and I suppose I must give up all hope of themen from the farm getting in. "

"Ah, yes! they are prisoners before this. So your poor father is lookedupon as a rebel now. "

"Stop, Master Pawson, " said Roy, hotly; "these words must not be spokenhere. "

"I only meant them as the opinion of the other party, who presume to saythe estate is confiscated. "

"My father acknowledges no other party. Confiscated! Why, this placehas belonged to the Roylands from the days of the Plantagenets, MasterPawson. Let these people come and take it if they can. "

"Ah, yes! that's brave and true, Roy, brave and true. Then you do meanto fight?"

"Yes, and you too, " cried the boy. "You want to save my father'sestate. "

"Oh, yes, I want to save the estate, " said the secretary, eagerly. 

"Then do everything you can, " cried Roy. "Yes, they will soon haveformed a ring round the castle now! Well, let them keep their distance, for I shall give orders for the garrison to fire at any one who attemptsto approach. "

"And how long do you hope to be able to hold out?"

"As long as it is necessary, " said Roy, proudly; "till my father comeswith his men, and scatters all these people away. "

"To be sure, yes, " said the secretary. "How proud he will be of you, Roy, when he knows all. "

Roy hurried down to join his lieutenant, whom he found humming a tune inthe armoury, busy over some preparations by the light of a lamp. 

"You don't seem in very bad spirits, Ben, " he said. "Bad spirits! Whatabout, sir? Why, it's like the good old time when your father and Iwere young. Not so young as you, though! Well, sir, we've beenthinking over our plans. They won't do anything yet--only shut us in. They're going to wait for more men and more artillery. "

"But we must be well on the watch against surprise, Ben. "

"Why, of course, sir! You'll have your watch on the towers. And you'veseen how they've got a ring of patrols round us?"

"Yes, I watched them. So we may give up all hope of getting those tenof Raynes's. "

"I'm afraid so. It's a bad job, sir, as the corporal was saying justnow, for we'd trained them into being our best gunners. "

"A terrible loss. "

"Well, not so very terrible, sir, because we must train up some more. Oh! we can keep the enemy outside the moat and enjoy ourselves whilethey're starving without a roof to cover them. But I want to say aserious thing or two, sir. "

"I know, Ben; you want to say that my mother's garden must go. "

"That's one thing, sir. "

"Well, take what ground you want, and we'll put it straight when we'vesent the Parliament to the right-about. "

"Oh, you'll make a good general, sir; and this trouble's a blessing indisguise to save you from being wasted on books, and becoming a sort ofMaster Pawson. And that brings me to the other things. "

"Well, what are those?"

"Just you tell me plain, as a soldier--which you are now--what you setdown as the strongest bits of the castle?"

"Why, the towers, of course!"

"That's right, sir. Very well, then, they must be well manned. "

"As well as we can man them. "

"That's it, sir; and we must have elbow-room. "

"Of course!"

"Then will you speak to my lady, and ask her to give Master Pawson acouple of rooms in the private part somewhere, or one room ought to beenough now, for I want those two chambers of his badly?"

"He won't like that, Ben, " said Roy, quickly. 

"I s'pose not, sir; and there'll be a lot of things none of us willlike, but we've got to put up with them. If you'll see about that atonce, I shall be glad. "

"Is it very necessary, Ben?"

"You know best about that, sir. "

"Yes, it is very necessary, Ben, " said Roy; and he hurried off to talkthe matter over with his mother, visiting the ramparts on his way. 

He found Lady Royland busy writing, and she looked up with a smile. 

"I am keeping a diary of all that has taken place since we began thedefence. But tell me first--Raynes's men--are we to give them up?"

"I'm afraid so, mother. They have not failed us, but have been takenprisoners. "

"This is a sad blow, Roy, but we must make up for it by workingtogether. --But what is it? You have not come to chat about nothings. "

"No, mother, " said the boy, seriously. "I have come to say that thepleasaunce must go. Ben Martlet says he cannot do without it now. "

"I have been expecting this, my boy. It has always been a dear delightto me, but it is a pleasure for peace; and when the happy days comeback, I shall want the whole garrison to restore it to me again. "

"Then I was right in telling Ben to take what he wanted?"

"Of course, my boy. --Something else?"

"Yes, mother--another bit of self-sacrifice. Martlet and I both feelthat we must have the north-west tower. --Ah, Master Pawson, you there?"

"Yes. I knocked twice, and I thought you said `Come in. '"

"Then you heard what I said just now. "

"I heard you mention the western tower. Have you been telling herladyship of what we saw this evening?"

"No. What did you see?" cried Lady Royland, quickly. 

"The enemy has completely surrounded us with sentinels. "

"Ah! they would, of course. "

"It was not that, Master Pawson--but this; I was about telling my motherthat, for the purposes of defence, Martlet and I feel that we must havethe north-west tower. "

"But you have it; the guns are there. "

"The top only, " said Roy. "The chambers below are required for the menwho work the guns, for ammunition, and other purposes. "

Master Pawson looked at him in blank horror. 

"My mother will see that you have comfortable rooms or a room somewherehere. I will give up mine to you if you like. "

"Oh! I could not take that, " said the secretary, quickly. "But surelythis is not necessary. "

"Yes; it is absolutely necessary. Besides, that tower will certainly bebattered by the enemy's guns, and it will not be safe for you. "

"I wish you would not persist in looking upon me as such a coward, Roy;it is not fair. I was never meant for a soldier, but surely a man maybe a man of peace and yet not a coward. "

"No, no; I do not look upon you as a coward, " said Roy, hastily. "It isreally because that will be a dangerous spot, and the rooms must bestrongly occupied. "

"But, as I said, you have the guns at the top. Really, I must protest;I am so much attached to those little rooms. Surely you can let mestay. I do not mind the firing. I will not go near the windows. "

"You do not grasp the fact that these angle towers are our greatestprotection, " said Roy, firmly. "I am sorry to give you all the troubleand annoyance, but we must have the chambers below. The one you use fora sleeping-room is absolutely necessary for the powder. "

"Indeed, Lady Royland, they could manage without, " protested thesecretary, warmly. "It would be a dreadful inconvenience to me to givethem up. There are the books and my papers. Oh, it is reallyimpossible. "

"You forget, Master Pawson, that we all have to make sacrifices now, andthat we shall have to make more and greater ones yet, before thisunhappy trouble is at an end. "

"Yes, yes, I know, Lady Royland, and I am ready to do anything to assistyou, " cried the secretary, excitedly. 

"Then give up your rooms like a man, " said Roy, "and without making somuch fuss. "

Master Pawson darted an angry look at the boy and then turned to hismother. 

"You know, Lady Royland, how I have thrown myself heart and soul intothe defence since I have found it necessary. You bade me go, but Iwould not. Duty said stay, and I risked my life in doing so; but as afavour, I beg that you will not let me be ousted from my two poor littlerooms to gratify the whim of a very obstinate old soldier, who wouldturn your pleasaunce into a drill-ground. "

"I have given up my garden because it is wanted, Master Pawson, " saidLady Royland, coldly. 

"To gratify a good soldier, I know, but a man who would have everythingturned into a fighting place. "

"It is not fair of you, sir, " said Roy, speaking very firmly. "This isno whim on the part of Martlet. Now that we are coming to using theguns, the men must have a place of shelter beneath the platform, and onewhere the powder may lie ready for handing up. We must have yoursleeping-room. "

"Take it then, " cried the secretary. "I give it up; but spare me mylittle sitting-room. "

"We want that too, " said Roy. "We may have wounded men. "

"Then bring them in there, and I'll help to dress their wounds; but Imust keep that. "

"Surely you can manage without depriving Master Pawson of that place, Roy, " said Lady Royland. 

"Thank you, thank you, Lady Royland. --Yes, you hear that, Roy. Youcan--you must--you shall spare me that poor place. It is so small. "

"And suppose we have an accident, and the powder bestowed in yourchamber above is blown up?"

"Well, I shall have died doing my duty, " said the secretary, withhumility. 

"Wouldn't it be doing your duty more to try and avoid danger, so as tobe useful to us all?" said Roy; and his mother's eyes flashed withpleasure, while the secretary started to hear such utterances from themere boy he despised. 

"Perhaps so, " he said, with a faint laugh; "but really, Roy, you willnot be so hard upon me as to refuse that favour. Do not make me thinkthat now you are castellan, you are becoming a tyrant. "

"There is no fear of my son becoming a tyrant, Master Pawson, " said LadyRoyland, smiling, and with something suggesting contempt for the speakerin her tones. --"Roy, dear, I think you might manage to let the lowerroom remain as it is for Master Pawson's use, if the upper floor isgiven up to the men. He could have the room next to yours for abedchamber. "

"Oh, that would not be necessary, " said the secretary, eagerly. "Theone room is all I want--it can be my bedchamber too. "

"I hardly know what to say, mother, " said the boy, gravely. --"Well, then, Master Pawson, keep your study; but we must have the upper room atonce, and if you are annoyed by the going to and fro of the men on thestaircase, you must not blame me. "

"My dear boy, " he cried, with effusion, "pray do not think me sounreasonable. I am most grateful to you, Lady Royland, and to you too, Roy. I shall never forget this kindness. I will go and see to the newarrangement at once. Can I have two servants to help to move down thefew things I shall want?"

"You can have two of the garrison, Master Pawson, " replied Roy, smiling;"they all consider themselves to be soldiers now. "

"Thank you, thank you, " he cried, in a voice which sounded as if it werechoked by emotion, and he hastily left the room. 

"I wish he would not be so dreadfully smooth, " said Roy, petulantly. "Iwant to like Master Pawson, but somehow he always makes me feel cross. "

"He is rather too fond of thanking one for every little favour; but itis his manner, dear, and he has certainly been doing his best to help usin this time of need. "

"Yes, " said Roy; "and we should have thought bad enough of him if he hadgone and left us in the lurch. There, mother, I must go and see BenMartlet and tell him what has been arranged. He will not like it, though; but he will have two things out of three. "

"You must not give up too much to Martlet, my boy, " said Lady Royland, retaining her son's hand as he rose to go. "He is a faithful oldservant, and will fight for us to the death; but remember that you aregovernor of the castle. "

"He makes me remember it, mother, " cried Roy, merrily. "Don't you beafraid of his being presuming, for he will not do a thing without I givethe order. There, good-bye. "

"Good-bye? You will be back soon. "

"No, " replied Roy; "I must be on the battlements all night, visitingposts and helping to keep watch. You forget that the enemy surround usnow. "

"Alas! no, Roy. I know it only too well. Come back in an hour's time--you will want some refreshment. I will see that it is ready, and I hopeby then you will find things so quiet that you can take a few hours'rest. "

"We shall see, mother, " said Roy, kissing her affectionately. "Howbrave you have grown!"

She shook her head sadly as she clung to him for a few moments; and, assoon as the door had closed, and his steps died away on the oaken floorof the corridor, she sank in a chair sobbing as if her heart wouldbreak. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

A GRAND SURPRISE. 

Roy had to go the whole round of the ramparts that night before he foundBen, who had always been visiting the parts he reached a few minutesbefore. But he came upon him at length, just at the door-way of thesouth-east tower, where it opened upon the southern rampart between thatplace and the great gate-way. 

"Ladyship says I'm to have the garden to turn back to a propercourt-yard?" said Ben, after hearing his master's report. 

"Yes. "

"And Master Pawson is turning out of his chamber, but he is to keep thelower place?"

"Yes; that is the arrangement, Ben; and you can have the upper chamberfor use at once. "

"Well, that's a good thing for the men who'll be up there, sir; but whatdoes Master Pawson want with that lower room? I meant to have threefirelock men there. "

"Be content with what you can have, Ben. My mother did not want to betoo hard upon Master Pawson. "

"No, sir; she wouldn't be. But you've come all round the ramparts?"

"Yes. "

"Kep' looking out of course, sir? What did you hear?"

"I? Nothing. "

"Then you didn't try. "

"Yes, I did; twice on each rampart. There was nothing to hear. "

Ben chuckled. 

"Ears aren't so sharp for night-work as they will be, sir, before you'vedone. I heard them on the move every time I stopped. "

"What! the enemy?"

"Yes, sir; they're padrolling the place round and round. You listen. "

Roy reached over the battlement, and gazed across the black moat, tryingto pierce the transparent darkness of the dull soft night. The dew thatwas refreshing the herbage and flowers of field, common, and copse sentup a deliciously moist scent, and every now and then came the call of amoor-hen paddling about in the moat, the soft piping and croaking of thefrogs, and the distant _hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo_! of an owl, but he could makeout nothing else, and said so. 

"No; they're pretty quiet now, sir; don't hear nothing myself. --Yes;there!"

"Yes, I heard that, " said Roy; "it was a horse champing his bit; andthere again, that must have been the jingle of a spur. "

"Right, sir, right. You'll hear plenty of that sort of thing if youkeep on listening. There, hear that?"

"Yes, plainly. A horse stumbled and plunged to save itself. "

"Enough to make it, " said Ben, gruffly; "going to sleep, and him on itjigged the spurs into its flanks to rouse it up. There, you can hear'em on the move again, going to and fro. "

"Yes, quite plainly, " whispered Roy; "why, they must have come in muchnearer. "

"No, sir. Everything's so quiet that the sounds seem close. They won'tcome in nigher for fear of a shot. "

"But they must know we could not see them. "

"Not yet, sir; but the moon'll be up in a couple of hours, and they knowit'll rise before long, and won't run any risks after what they've seenof my gunners--I mean your--sir. Ah! it's a bad job about those tenpoor lads. They would have been able to shoot. Master Raynes is in afine taking about 'em. "

"Can't be helped, Ben; we must do our best without them. "

"Ay, sir, we must, even if it's bad. "

They remained silent for a few minutes, gazing outward, hearing thejingle of harness, and the soft trampling of hoofs, all of which soundedwonderfully near. 

The pause was broken by Ben, who whispered suddenly:

"You're right, Master Roy, after all; they are coming in a bit closerand no mistake. Mind coming round with me?"

"No. What are you going to do?"

"Have a word with the lads all round to be on the lookout. I don't wantto make a noise, and get blazing away powder and shot for nothing; butthey must be taught their distance, sir. "

"With the cannon?"

"No; I think a few firelock shots might do it to-night, sir; and thatwouldn't be so wasteful. Do our boys good too. They haven't firedtheir pieces yet in earnest. "

Roy's heart began to beat a little faster, for this was exciting; andsilently passing on with his lieutenant, post after post was visited, the men challenging, receiving the word, and then a sharp warning to beon the alert; while, after this, Ben and Roy passed on to listen againand again. 

"Yes, sir, " whispered the former; "there's no mistake they're a goodhundred yards closer in. I almost fancied I could see one of 'em movingagainst that lighter bit of sky. "

"I can, Ben, " whispered Roy. "There, just to the left of where theruins must lie--between it and the tower we just passed. Stay, though;why didn't we go up and see how they're getting on with clearing MasterPawson's chamber? There is a light up there. "

"'Cause we've got something more serious on the way, sir. "

"Halt! stand, or I fire!" came from the top of the north-west tower, andRoy was about to call out--

"Don't, you idiot; we gave you the word just now, " when a voice frombeyond the moat uttered a low "Whist!"

"Stand, or I fire!"

"If you do, Dick Davis, I'll punch your head, as sure as you standthere, " came from across the moat. "Can't you see we're friends?"

"Give the word. "

"Stop! Who's there?" cried Roy. 

"That you, sir? Please speak to Dick Davis, or he'll be shootingsomebody with that gun of hisn. "

"Is that Brian Wiggins?"

"Yes, sir, and the rest on us, sir. But pst! The enemy's closebehind. "

"Quick! round to the bridge!"

"No, sir; there's a whole lot of 'em come close in. They nearly had usan hour ago, and we've had a fine job to creep through all in a line onearter t'other. "

"Hist! cease talking, " whispered Roy, "or you'll be heard. "

The warning came too late, for an order delivered in a low tone a shortdistance away was followed by a tramping as if a line of horses wasapproaching cautiously. 

"How many of you can swim? Now, as many as can, come across. "

But no one stirred, and the trampling came on. 

"Do you hear?" said Roy, in an angry whisper; "are you afraid?"

"Fear'd to leave our comrades as can't swim, sir, " said the man who hadfirst spoken. 

"What's to be done, " exclaimed Roy, excitedly. 

But there was no response, for he was standing there upon the rampartalone. 

The boy was in an agony of doubt and dread, for the right thing to do insuch an emergency would not come to his inexperienced brain. He divinedthat Ben had gone for assistance, but he felt that before he could beback, the brave fellows who were trying to come to their aid would besurrounded by the enemy and taken prisoners. 

To add to his horror and excitement, he plainly heard from the enemy'sline the word given to dismount. This was followed by the jingle ofaccoutrements as the men sprang from their horses, and a loud bang--evidently of a steel headpiece falling to the ground. 

To speak to the unarmed men from the farm was to obtain an answer andproclaim their whereabouts to the enemy; so Roy was baffled there; and, at his wit's end, he was about to order them to make their way to thebridge, when the man on the tower above challenged again:

"Stand, or I fire!"

"Draw swords! Forward, quick!" came from out of the darkness. 

The sharp rattle and noise told that the party must be large, and like acall just then a horse uttered a tremendous neigh. 

Involuntarily, at the first order from beyond the moat, Roy had halfdrawn his own sword, but thrust it angrily back as he realised hisimpotence, and reached forward to try and make out what was going onbelow him; for there was a loud splashing noise in the water as if themen were lowering themselves into the moat, the reeds and rushescrackled and whispered, and there was a panting sound and a lowejaculation or two. 

"Now, every one his man, " said some one, sharply. 

_Bang, bang_! and a couple of flashes of light from the top of the towerjust above Roy's head; and as the splashing went on, there was a loudtrampling of feet. 

"On with you!" roared the same voice. "They'll be an hour loading, andit's too dark to hit. "

At that moment, from some distance along the rampart to the right, cameflash after flash, and the reports of ten or a dozen muskets, followedby the rush of feet; and Ben's voice said, in a low stern tone--

"Steady, steady! No hurry. Reload!"

There was the rustling and rattling of bandoleer and ramrod, and thetwinkling of sparks of light, as the reloading went on; while from theangry orders being given, some distance back in the darkness, it wasevident that the volley had sent the enemy off in a scare, which wasmade worse by the plunging, snorting, and galloping of horses which hadevidently dashed off, escaping from the men who held their reins. 

"How many are you above there?" cried Roy. 

"Three, sir. "

"Only two fired. "

"No. My piece wouldn't go. "

"Are you reloaded?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Be ready. "

"They're coming on again, sir. He's rallied 'em, " growled Ben; "but weshall be ready for 'em when they come. "

Meanwhile, the sound of splashing and swimming came up from the moat, accompanied by a good many spluttering and choking noises, and now headswere dimly made out approaching the bank of the moat below. 

"How many are there of you across?" said Roy. 

"Eight of us, sir, " came up in a panting voice; "we're going back forthe other two. "

"Who are--how many?"

"Four on us, sir, " said one man; "they're hiding in the reeds. Can'tswim. "

"Can you bring them across?"

"Yes, sir. We did bring three as couldn't take a stroke, and they'redown here half drowned. "

"That's a loy, " said a gruff voice; "I aren't: on'y full o' water. "

The men lowered themselves into the moat again, and began to swim back, but just as they were nearly across, there came the thudding sound ofhorses passing along at a trot, and a rush of men towards the edge ofthe moat. 

"Fire!" shouted Roy; and over the swimmers' heads a ragged volley tore, the flashes cutting the darkness, and once more, in spite of angrycurses and yelled-out orders, horse and man were driven to theright-about, all save about a dozen, who came right on to the edge ofthe moat. 

"Surrender!" roared a voice, as there was a quick splashing among thereeds below the bank. Then a shot was fired from a pistol, followed byanother; but the men summoned to surrender had done so to theircomrades, who whispered to them to trust themselves to their strongarms, two of the swimmers taking a non-swimmer between them, andbringing him across in safety to the rest, crouching upon the narrowstrip of bank beneath the walls. 

Another volley sent the attacking party back into the darkness, and abrief colloquy took place. 

"All safe?" cried Roy. 

"Yes, sir, and as wet as wet, " came up in answer. 

"Fall in, then, and quick march for the sally-port, " cried Roy; and themen tramped round by the north-west tower, along beneath the westernrampart, turned the southern corner, and were admitted by the littlesally-port beside the portcullis, where, bedraggled as they were, theyreceived a tremendous hand-shaking and a roar of cheers. 

In half an hour the missing men were in dry clothes, ready to recounttheir adventures. The enemy had retired to a distance to continue theirnight patrol of the place; while the men upon the ramparts were reducedto the regular watch, and those off duty were being addressed by Ben, who sarcastically lectured them upon what he called their modesty. 

"When the captain gives the order to fire, " he said, "you're all to pulltrigger together, and every man not to let his comrade fire first forgood manners. "

But here Roy interposed. 

"No more to-night, sergeant, " he said, firmly. "We are all fresh to ourwork. But I thank you all for the brave and manly way in which you haveshown what you can do. This has been a grand night's work: your tencomrades safely brought in, and the enemy sent to the right-about. Thesergeant has been finding fault, but he is as proud of you all as I am. Come, Martlet, what do you say?"

"Might ha' done better, captain, " replied the old fellow, gruffly. "Butit warn't so bad. Wait a few days, though, and we'll show you somethingbetter than that. --What do you say, lads?"

The answer was a hearty cheer, which was repeated, and was still echoingthrough the place, when Roy, thrilling still with the excitement of thepast hour, made his way towards his mother's room to fully set her mindat rest with his last good news. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

BUT ALL'S WELL. 

Lady Royland was surrounded by the trembling women of the household, who, scared by the firing, had sought her to find comfort and relief. 

"What! the ten men safely brought in!" she cried, as her son hastened totell his tidings. "And no one hurt?"

"No one on our side, mother, " said Roy, meaningly; "I cannot answer forthose across the moat. "

"Our ten poor fellows here in safety, " cried Lady Royland, once again. "Oh, Roy, my boy, this is good news indeed! But you must be faint andexhausted. Come in the dining-room. I have something ready for you. --There, you have nothing to fear now, " she said, addressing the women;"but one of you had better go and tell Master Pawson that we are readyto sup. "

The women went out, some of them still trembling and hysterical, and allwhite and scared of aspect. 

As soon as the door was closed, Lady Royland caught her son's hand. 

"Eight of us women, " she said, with a forced laugh: "eight, and of nouse whatever; only ready to huddle together like so many sheep scared bysome little dog; when, if we were men, we could be of so much help. There, come along; you look quite white. You are doing too much. Formy sake, take care. "

Roy nodded and smiled, and followed his mother into the dining-room, where with loving care she had prepared everything for him, and made itattractive and tempting, so that it should be a relief to the harshrealities of the warlike preparations with which the boy was now mixedup. 

"You must eat a good supper, Roy, and then go and have a long night'srest. "

"Impossible, mother, " he said, faintly; "must go and visit the men'sposts from time to time. "

"No, " said Lady Royland, firmly, as she unbuckled her son's sword-belt, and laid it and the heavy weapon upon a couch. 

There was a tap at the door directly after, and one of the maids cameback. 

"If you please, my lady, I've been knocking ever so long at MasterPawson's door, and he doesn't answer. We think he has gone to bed. "

"Surely not. He must be in the upper chamber arranging about the thingsbeing removed. "

"No, my lady; that was all done a long time ago. It was finished beforethe fighting began, for he wouldn't have nothing but his bed andwashstand brought down. The men had to take most of the other thingsright down in the black cellar place underneath, so as to clear thechamber. "

"But did you ask the men on guard if they had seen him?"

"Yes, my lady; they say he shut himself up in his room. "

"That will do. Never mind, " said Lady Royland, dismissing themaid. --"Now, Roy, I am going to keep you company, and--oh, my boy! whatis it? Ah! You are hurt!"

She flew to his side, and with trembling hands began to tear open hisdoublet, but he checked her. 

"No, no, mother, I am not--indeed!"

"Then what is it? You are white and trembling, and your forehead is allwet. "

"Yes, it has come over like this, " he faltered, "all since the fight andgetting the men in through the sally-port. "

"But you must have been hurt without knowing it. "

"No, no, " he moaned, as he sank back in the chair, and covered his facewith his hands. 

"Roy, my boy, speak out. Tell me. What is the matter?"

"I didn't mean to speak a word, mother, " he groaned; "but I can't keepit back. "

"Yes; speak, speak, " she said, tenderly, as she sank upon her knees byhis side, and drew his head to her breast. 

"Ah!" he sighed, restfully, as he flung his arms about her neck. "I canspeak now. I should have fought it all back; but when I came in here, and saw all those frightened women, and you spoke as you did about beingso helpless, it was too much for me. "

"Oh, nonsense!" she cried, soothingly. "Why should their--our--foolishweakness affect you, my own brave boy?"

"No, no, mother, " he cried; "don't--don't speak like that. You hurt memore. "

"Hurt you?" she said, in surprise. 

"Yes, yes, " he cried, excitedly. "You don't know; but you must know--you shall know. I'm not brave. I'm a miserable coward. "

"Roy! Shame upon you!" cried Lady Royland, reproachfully. 

"Yes, shame upon me, " said the lad, bitterly; "but I can't help it. Ihave tried so hard; but I feel such a poor weak boy--a mere impostor, trying to lord it over all these men. "

"Indeed!" said Lady Royland, gravely. "Yes? Go on. "

"I know they must see through me, from Ben down to the youngest farmhand. They're very good and kind and obedient because I'm your son; butthey, big strong fellows as they are, must laugh at me in theirsleeves. "

"Ah! you feel that?" said Lady Royland. 

"Yes, I feel what a poor, girlish, weak thing I am, and that all this istoo much for me. Mother, if it were not for you and for very shame, Ibelieve I should run away. "

"Go on, Roy, " sand Lady Royland; and her sweet, deep voice seemed todraw the most hidden thoughts of his breast to his lips. 

"Yes, I must go on, " he cried, excitedly. "I hid it all when I went toface that officer, who saw through me in spite of my bragging words, andlaughed; and in the wild excitement of listening to-night to thetroopers closing us in and trying to capture those poor fellows, I didnot feel anything like fear; but now it is all over and they are safe, Iam--I am--oh, mother! it is madness--it is absurd for me, such a mereboy, to go on pretending to command here, with all this awfulresponsibility of the fighting that must come soon. I know that I can'tbear it--that I must break down--that I have broken down. I can't go onwith it; I'm far too young. Only a boy, you see, and I feel now morelike a girl, for I believe I could lie down and cry at the thought ofthe wounds and death and horrors to come. Oh, mother, mother! I'm onlya poor pitiful coward after all. "

"God send our poor distressed country a hundred thousand of such poorpitiful cowards to uphold the right, " said Lady Royland, softly, as shedrew her son more tightly to her swelling breast. "Hush, hush, my boy!it is your mother speaks. There, rest here as you used to rest when youwere the tiny little fellow whose newly opened eyes began to know me, whose pink hands felt upward to touch my face. You a coward! Why, mydarling, can you not understand?"

"Yes, I understand, " he groaned, as he clung to her, "that it is my owndear mother trying to speak comfort to me in my degradation and shame. Mother, mother! I would not have believed I was such a pitiful cur asthis. "

"No, " she said, softly; "I am speaking truth. You do not understandthat after the work and care of all this terrible time of preparation, ending in the great demands made upon you to-day, the strain has beengreater than your young nature can bear. Bend the finest sword too far, Roy, and it will break. You are overdone--worn-out. It is not as youthink. "

"Ah! it is you who do not know, mother, " he said, bitterly. "I am notfit to lead. "

"Indeed! you think so?" she said, pressing her lips to his wet, coldbrow. "You say this because you look forward with horror to thebloodshed to come. "

"Yes; it is dreadful. I was so helpless to-night, and I shall be losingmen through my ignorance. "

"Helpless to-night? But you beat the enemy off. "

"No, no--Ben Martlet's doing from beginning to end. "

"Perhaps. The work of an old trained man of war, who has ridden to thefight a score of times with your father, and now your brave father'sson's right-hand--a man who worships you, and who told me only to-day, with the tears in his eyes, how proud he was of that gallant boy--ofyou. "

"Ben said that--of me?"

"Yes, my boy; and do you think with all his experience he cannot readyou through and through?"

"No, mother, he can't--he can't, " said the lad, despondently; "no onecan know me as I do. "

"Poor child!" she said, fondly, as she caressed him; "what a piece ofvanity is this! A boy of seventeen thinking he knows himself by heart. Out upon you, Roy, for a conceited coxcomb! Why, we all know you betterthan you know yourself; and surely I ought to be the best judge of whatyou are. "

"No, " said Roy, angrily; "you only spoil me. "

"Indeed! then I shall go on, and still spoil you in this same way, andkeep you the coward that you are. "

"Mother!" he cried, reproachfully; "and with all this terribleresponsibility rising like a dense black cloud before my eyes. "

"Yes, Roy, because it is night now, and black night too, in your wearybrain. Ah! my boy, and to how many in this world is it the same blacknight. But the hours glide on, the day dawns, and the glorious sunrises again to pierce the thick cloud of darkness, and brighten thegloomy places of the earth. Just as hope and youth and your naturalvigour will chase away your black cloud, after the brain has been fallowfor a few hours, and you have had your rest. "

"No, no, no, " he groaned; "you cannot tell. "

"I can tell you, Roy, " she said, softly; "and I can tell you, too, thatyour father is just such another coward as his son. "

"My father!" cried Roy, springing to his feet, flushed and excited. "Myfather is the bravest, truest man who ever served the king. "

"Amen to that, my boy!" said Lady Royland, proudly; "but do you think, Roy, that our bravest soldiers, our greatest warriors, have been menmade of iron--cruel, heartless beings, without a thought of the terribleresponsibilities of their positions, without a care for the sufferingsof the men they lead? I believe it never has been so, and never will. Come, my darling, " she continued, clinging to his hands, and drawingherself to her feet--"come here for a little while. There, " she said, softly, taking the sword from the couch; "your blade is resting for awhile; why should not you? Yes: I wish it; lie right down--for a littlewhile--before we sup. Ah, that is better!"

Utterly exhausted now, Roy yielded to her loving hands, and sank backupon the soft couch with a weary sigh; while, as he stretched himselfout, she knelt by his side, and tenderly wiped his brow before passingher hands over his face, laying his long hair back over the pillow, andat every touch seeming to bring calm to the weary throbbing brain. 

After a few minutes he began to mutter incoherently, and Lady Roylandleaned back to reach a feather-fan from a side-table, and then softlywafted the air to and fro till the words began to grow more broken, andat last ceased, as the boy uttered a low, weary sigh, his breath grewmore regular, and he sank into the deep heavy sleep of exhausted nature. 

Then the fan dropped from Lady Royland's hand, and she rose to cross theroom softly, and with a line draw up the casement of the narrow slit ofa window which looked down upon the moat, for the night wind camefresher there than from the main windows looking upon the garden court. 

Softly returning, she bent down, and with the lightest of fingers untiedthe collar of her son's doublet and linen shirt, before bending lower, with her long curls drooping round his face, till she could kiss hisbrow, no longer dank and chilly, but softly, naturally warm. 

This before sinking upon her knees to watch by his side for theremainder of the night; and as she knelt her lips parted to murmur--

"God save the king--my husband--and our own brave boy!"

A moment later, as if it were an answer to her prayer, a voice, softenedby the distance, was heard from the ramparts somewhere above utteringthe familiar reply to a challenge--

"All's well!"

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

ROY GETS OVER HIS FIT. 

The dawn came, and Lady Royland still knelt by the couch where her sonslept heavily. She did not stir till the sun rose, and then she rosesoftly to go to the narrow slit in the massive wall, reach as far as shecould into the deep splay, and gaze out. 

She sighed, for far-away in the distance she could see mounted men withthe sun flashing from their armour. 

She turned back, for she had learned all she wished to know--the enemywas still there; and, wondering what that day might bring forth, shewent and sat down now by her son's head to watch him as he slept. 

The time crept on with the sounds of the awakening household mingledwith the clangour of the morning calls and the tramp of armed menfloating in through the window; but the watcher did not stir till thedoor was opened, and a couple of the maids appeared, to start back inaffright, after a wondering glance at the untouched meal upon the table, for Lady Royland rose quickly with a gesture to them to be silent. 

They crept away, and she followed to the door. 

"Prepare the breakfast in the library, " she said, and then returned toher seat. 

The clock chimed and struck again and again, but Roy did not wake; andat last one of the maids came and tapped very softly. 

"Breakfast is quite ready, my lady, " she whispered. 

"I am not coming till my son wakes, " replied Lady Royland. "Ask MasterPawson not to wait. "

"He's not down yet, my lady, " said the woman. 

"Very well: ask him not to wait when he does come. The gentlemen areweary after the troubles of a very anxious night. "

The woman went away, and Lady Royland returned to her seat, to bend overher son again as he lay there breathing evenly, still plunged in hisdeep sleep; and then at its stated intervals, the clock in the gate-waychimed, and chimed, and struck, and struck again, to mark off the secondhour before there was another tap at the door, and the maid announced ina whisper that Sergeant Martlet was asking for Captain Roy. 

"Send him here, " said her ladyship, "and bid him come in gently. "

"Yes, my lady, " said the woman; "and, if you please, my lady, MasterPawson has just come down, and is having his breakfast. "

"Very good, " said Lady Royland, coldly, and the maid retired. 

Five minutes later, the old soldier, fully armed, came softly to thedoor, was admitted, and stood upon the thick carpet, saluting his lady. She pointed to the couch, and a grim smile of satisfaction crossed thesoldier's deeply-lined face. 

"He was quite worn-out and exhausted, " said Lady Royland, in a whisper, as she crossed to where Ben stood, --"too faint and troubled with thecares and anxieties of this weary business even to eat. "

"But he has slept, my lady?" whispered Ben. 

"Ever since. "

"Let him sleep, then, till he wakes, and he'll be right enough again. "

"I hope so; but he was very low and despondent last night. He feels theresponsibility of his position so much. "

"Course he does, my lady. That's his breed. His father always did. Used to make as much fuss over one of us as went down or got a wound asif we'd been his own children. But you let him sleep, my lady; he'll belike a new man when he gets up. He's a wonder, my lady; that he is. "

"He was afraid that the men were disposed to smile at him because he isso young. "

"I should just like to ketch one on 'em a-doing it, " growled Ben. "Butit aren't true, my lady, " he continued, excitedly. "They smiles when hecomes up, o' course, but it's because he seems to do 'em good, and theycan't help it, they're so pleased to see him. Why, if you'll believeme, my lady, from Sir Granby's corporal o' dragoons down to IsaiahWiggens, as got nigh upon drowned being pulled across the moat lastnight, my lady--"

"Oh, how horrible!"

"Horrid? Not it, my lady--begging your pardon. Sarve him right! Greatbig hulking lubberly chap like that, and not able to swim!"

"But is he ill this morning?"

"Not he, my lady. He was so roasted in the guard-room after, that hegot up at daylight and went into the moat again 's morning to begin tolarn. "

"But tell me, what news?"

"They're all padrolling us, my lady, same as they were last night. Theygot the oats from Farmer Raynes, and they think they're going to starveus by stopping everything else from coming in; but we can afford tolaugh at 'em for about three months; and at the end of that time, if SirGranby don't come and raise the siege, I've got an idee for trappingenough meat for the men. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes, my lady, " said Ben, with a grin. "Only to lower the drawbridgeand hyste the portcullis, to let a whole court-yard-full ride in. Thendrop the grating behind 'em, and they're trapped. After that we canmake 'em lay down their arms, turn 'em out, and keep their horses. They'll do to feed the men. I've eaten horse, and Sir Granby too, at apinch, and it aren't so bad; but o' course I'd rather have beef. "

"Then there is nothing to fear for the present?"

"Aren't nothing to fear at all, past, present, or futur', my lady, sodon't you be uncomfortable. And as for Master Roy, he needn't gothinking no nonsense o' that sort about the men, for they just worshiphim, all of 'em, and that's the honest truth. "

"I believe it, Martlet. Have you breakfasted this morning?"

"Had a chunk o' bread and a mug o' milk, my lady. "

"That is not enough for a busy man like you are. Sit down to thattable, and eat. "

"What, here, my lady! Oh, no, I couldn't presume!"

"Hush! Do not speak so loud, " said Lady Royland, smiling. "These arenot times for standing upon ceremony, Martlet. We women cannot fight;but we can help in other ways, above all in attending to our bravedefenders, and seeing that they have all that is necessary. And if theworst comes to the worst, and--"

"Yes; I know what your ladyship means, " said the old soldier, for LadyRoyland had paused, "and to be plain, the men have been talking a bitabout that same, and what they were to do if they were hurt and nodoctor here. I said--"

It was the sergeant's turn to be silent now, and he stopped as if thewords would not come. 

"And what did you say?"

"Well, my lady, I took the liberty of saying that your ladyship wastraining up the women, and that when one of us was lucky enough to getwounded in the service of his king and country, he'd be carried into oneof the big rooms o' the east side, as would be turned into a hospital, and there tied up and put to bed, and souped and jellied and pastied, and made so much of, that he'd be sorry for the poor comrades who wereonly working the guns and doing the fighting. "

"You were quite right, Martlet, " said Lady Royland. "Tell the men thatthe wounded shall each be treated as if he were my own son. "

"Begging your ladyship's pardon, that's just what I did tell 'em, only Iput a few flourishes to it, and I won't say it again, because it maymake 'em rash and wanting to get wounded for the sake of being carriedinto the snug quarters, and--"

"Sit down, Martlet, and eat, " said Lady Royland, pushing a chair towardsthe table. 

"With your ladyship's permission, I'd rather cut off a bit o' something, and go and sit on one of the guns to eat it, and look out too. I shouldenjoy it better. "

"Do as you wish, " said Lady Royland. "There, take that fowl and loaf. "

"Thank you kindly, my lady, and--Morning, Master Roy, sir. Had a goodsleep?"

For at that moment Roy sprang from the couch and looked excitedly round. 

"What is it?" he cried. "What's the matter? Morning! Surely I havenot--"

"Yes, Roy, soundly and well, all night. Come, you must be ready forbreakfast. "

"Yes, yes, mother, " cried the boy, impatiently. --"But tell me, Ben--Oh, you ought not to have let me sleep all night. Here, what has happened?"

"Nothing at all, sir, or I should have sent for you, " said the oldsoldier, who had taken out a handkerchief, given it a shake, and spreadit upon the carpet, placed in it the roast chicken and loaf, sprinkledall liberally with salt, and now proceeded to tie the ends of thehandkerchief across, to make a bundle. "They're a-padrolling round andround, just as they have been all night, and keeping well out ofgunshot. Wouldn't like me to send a ball hopping along the ground totry the range, would you, sir?"

"No, not unless they attack, " said Roy, quickly. 

"Thought you wouldn't, sir, when I spoke. --Thank ye for this snack, mylady. I'll go back now to the ramparts. --P'raps you'll jyne me there, Master Roy, when you've had your breakfast. All's well, sir; and themten farmers are ready to stand on their heads with joy at gettingthrough the enemy's ranks. "

"Ah! how was it?"

"Only kept back by the sentries watching 'em; so they all went home asif they'd done work, and agreed to crawl to our place after dark, andcreep to the gates. "

"But no one was hurt?"

"No, sir; nothing worse happened to 'em than a wetting in the moat, andthat don't count, because they were well wet before with crawlingthrough the grass and damp ditches. See you in 'bout an hour's timethen, sir?"

Roy nodded shortly, and the man left the room with his bundle; whileRoy, uneasy still in mind, turned to his mother, who embraced himtenderly. 

"You will not be long, Roy, my dear?" she said. "I want my breakfast, too. "

"But surely, mother, you have not been sitting up all night while Islept?"

"Indeed, yes, " she said, merrily. "And many a time before last night, when you were a tiny thing and could not sleep. Last night you could, peacefully and well, to awake this morning strong mentally and bodily, to do your duty like my brave son. "

Roy winced; but there was something in his mother's look which told himthat his words of the past night were as if uttered only to himself, andthat the subject of their conversation must be buried in the past. 

"You will not be long?" said Lady Royland, as she went to the door. 

"No, mother; not above ten minutes. Quite enough for a soldier'stoilet, " he said, cheerily. And she nodded and went off; while hehurried to his own room, and after plunging his face in the fresh coldwater felt such a healthy glow coming through his veins, that he wasready to wonder at the previous night's depression. 

"What a glorious morning!" he muttered. "Couldn't have been well lastnight. --Hope my mother didn't think me stupid. --What a shame to let hersit up there all night!--Why, how hungry I do feel!--And only to thinkof our getting those fellows in quite safe after all. --Ha, ha, ha! howmad the enemy must have felt. "

Roy was standing before a mirror combing his wet locks as he burst outinto a hearty laugh, full of enjoyment; but he checked it directly, andstood staring at himself in wonder as the thoughts of the past nightintruded, and he remained for a few moments puzzled to account for thechange that a long rest had wrought in him. 

The next minute he was hurrying with his sword and belt under his arm tothe breakfast-room, where he found his mother waiting, and MasterPawson, who looked very pale, in conversation with her. 

"Good-morning, Roy, " he said. "I congratulate you upon the accession tothe strength of the garrison. The men are all in the highest spirits, and full of praise of the gallant way in which you drove the enemyback. "

"Then I shall have to undeceive them, Master Pawson, " replied Roy, as hejoined his mother at the table. "It was in the dark, and they could notsee. All Ben Martlet's doing from beginning to end. "

"I'm afraid you are too modest, " said the secretary, smiling, as Roybegan his breakfast with a splendid appetite. "And tell me, " hecontinued, anxiously--"I ought not to ask, perhaps, but I take suchinterest in the proceedings--you will not listen to any proposals forsurrender, even on good terms, which may come from the enemy?"

"What capital ham, mother, " said Roy. Then turning to the secretary: "Iwouldn't have listened to any proposals for surrender without those tenmen, Master Pawson. When all the guns are disabled and the powder done, and nearly everybody wounded, I won't surrender; for you'll put on ahelmet and back-piece then, and come and help the maids throw downstones upon their heads, and--yes, we shall have to use themachicolations then; but it shall be hot water for the enemy, not hotlead. The women can manage the boiling water better than the metal. Surrender! Bah! I say, sit down and have some more breakfast. I'm toobusy to talk. "

"Ah! what a spirit you have, " cried the secretary, with a look ofadmiration in the lad's face. "But you are right. No surrender uponany terms; and if you talk much more like this, Roy, you will inspireme. I, too, shall want to fight, or at least help to load the guns. "

"I hope you won't, " thought Roy; "for I'd a great deal rather you wouldstop away. "

Ten minutes later he was buckling on his sword, without a trace of thelast night's emotion visible on his countenance. 

"I'll go down to the great gate, " said the secretary. "You will join methere?"

"Yes, directly. But I say, Master Pawson, I hope you managed to makeshift at your new bedroom. "

"Don't mention it. I shall be all right. --For the present, LadyRoyland!" And the secretary left the room. 

"No surrender, Roy, my boy. "

"No, mother; and--and--last night, I--"

"Was tired out, and no wonder. No--hush! Not another word. Some daywhen all is at peace once more, I will reopen the subject in yourfather's presence. Till then, it is our mutual confidence. There, goand show yourself to the men, and see how they will greet you on thisbonnie, sunny day. "

The boy hurried out with burning cheeks, and they seemed to scorch as hefound his mother's flower-beds trampled down, and the whole strength ofthe garrison on parade; for the moment he appeared, discipline seemed tobe at an end, swords and muskets, adorned with steel caps, were wavingin the air, while the flag flew out bravely from the great toweroverhead, as if fluttered by the wind of the great hearty cheer whicharose as he marched to the front, saluting as he went. 

"Ah!" he sighed to himself, as his blood seemed to effervesce, and athrill ran through his nerves, "who could be a coward at a time likethis?"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

BEN MARTLET IS VERY FULL OF DOUBTS. 

That day matters remained unchanged, save that only about a fourth ofthe enemy were visible, there being mounted men stationed at intervalsupon the higher portions of the country round the castle, where theycould command a view of all the approaches; but towards evening thesemen were relieved, and strong bodies appeared, but not for purposes ofattack, merely to draw in and take up stations at closer distancesbefore recommencing what Ben called "padrolling. " Meanwhile, drillingwent on busily, and the arrangements were advanced for the properservice of the guns. 

A quiet, uninterrupted night succeeded, Roy having arranged with Ben todivide the post-visiting with him and the corporal, who was now lookedupon as the third officer in command. 

Roy saw but little of Master Pawson that evening. The secretary hadbeen very busy about the place all the day, and, making the excuse ofweariness after vainly trying to keep his eyes open, he retired early. 

Two more days passed in the same way, valuable days to the garrison, which went on with gun and sword practice from morn till night, andrapidly approached a condition in which they would be able to give agood account of themselves before the enemy. 

On the afternoon of the fourth day, it was evident that a change wastaking place, for the head of a column of infantry became visible, probably the men for whom the officer in command had been waiting. 

Roy hurried to the top of the gate tower with Ben, and the secretaryfollowed, and was the first to point out that behind the regiment ofinfantry, horses were visible--led horses; and no one was surprised, when the infantry opened out a little, to see that four heavy guns werebeing laboriously dragged along the rough country lane, a road-way illfitted to bear the pressure of the wheels with their burden. 

"They mean business now, " said Roy, who felt as if something wascompressing his heart. 

"Oy, sir, " said Ben, coolly; "they'll knock up an earthwork beforemorning, and set the guns in a position for battering the gate-way. "

"But you will not surrender, Roy?" said the secretary, excitedly. 

"Not I, " said Roy. "I told you so before. "

"Not him, sir, " said old Ben. "Let 'em batter. Them guns won't beheavy enough to hurt the tower and walls more than to send chips ofstone flying. "

"What about the drawbridge, Ben?"

"Oh, they can't hurt that, sir, because you'll give orders to lower thatdown and hoist the portculley. "

"Rather tempting for them to make a rush, Ben. "

"Tchah, sir! We shall be keeping a good watch, and up and down bridgeand portcullis would be, long before they could get up to 'em. Is'pose, sir, you'll make sure that old Jenks doesn't go across to hisgate-house. "

"Of course. "

"And I s'pose, sir, you'll have the two big guns hoisted up on to thegreat tower now: we could easily dismount 'em and do that. They'll behandier up there now, and very awkward for them as works the guns intheir earthwork. "

"Yes, I shall order that to be done at once, " said Roy, with a comicallook at his Mentor--one which Ben refused to see. 

"And then, sir, " he continued, "there's that there earthwork as'll stophalf the shot they send in through the gate-way, and send a lot of 'emflying right up over the towers. "

"What earthwork?"

"Well, sir, that one as you're going to start as soon as it's gettingdark. Ground's pretty soft for working, and we've got plenty of timber. I s'pose you'll reg'larly fill up Jenks's gate-way, and leave quite adeep ditch behind it on our side. "

"Why not on their side, Ben?" said Roy, sharply. 

"Why, of course, sir; I seemed to fancy this side; but t'other's better, and all the earth we throw out of the ditch goes on the front and top ina slope, eh?"

"Yes, of course; and turns the balls upward. "

"Not many on 'em will go up, sir. Ground'll be too soft. They'll justplump in there and stop; and so much the better for Royland Towers. "

As they watched attentively, they found that the horses were halted, andthe guns drawn right in front of the castle gate, but at the distance ofquite half a mile. There the men seemed to be bivouacking; and thesmoke of several fires rose slowly in the air. 

No more time was lost: the gunners were summoned, ropes got ready, someheavy beams were hoisted up to the platform of the gate tower, and, under the guidance of Ben and the corporal, a rough kind of crane wasfitted up; and after the guns had been dismounted, the carriages werehoisted and placed in position behind the embrasures. 

The heavier task was to come; but Ben and the three troopers seemed tomaster every difficulty, carefully securing the guns with ingeniousknots of the ropes; and at last the word was given to hoist. 

The hemp stretched and strained, and as the first gun rose a little fromthe ground, it seemed to Roy as if the strands must give way, and heordered every one to stand well aside. Ben smiled. 

"No fear of that, sir, " he whispered. "Those are the toughest of hemp, those ropes, and as the length gets shorter, the strain grows less. Steady, my lads! a little at a time. "

The hauling went on till the first gun was level with the top of thebattlements, when there was a clever bit of management with a big woodenbar or two handled by the troopers on the roof, and the first gun waseasily dropped right upon its carriage. 

"One, " said Roy, with a sigh of relief, for he was in constant dread ofan accident. 

"Ay, sir; and it will be two directly; and I wish it was three for theenemy's sake. "

The second gun was hoisted, and mounted rapidly, thanks to the trainedskill of the four regular soldiers; while the men from the mill whohelped looked on with profound admiration, though they were prettyclever at moving stones. 

Discipline was relaxed over this manual labour, with the consequencethat Sam Donny's tongue began to run rather freely, a certain intimacyhaving existed in the past between Roy and the miller's man connectedwith the demand and supply of meal-worms for catching and feedingnightingales, which came about as far west as the castle and no farther. 

"Beat us chaps to 'a done that, Master Roy, " he said. 

"Captain Roy, " growled Ben. 

"Ay. Forgetted, " said the man. "T'other seems so nat'ral. Beat uschaps, Captain Roy. We'm as strong as them, but they've got a way ahandling they brass guns as seems to come nat'ral to 'em like. But ifthey'll come to the mill, we'll show 'em something along o' flour-sacks, and the grinding-stones as'll make 'em stare. Every man to his trade. "

"Well, you're a soldier now, Sam Donny, and you must learn to handleguns as well as you handle sacks of flour. "

"We will, master--I mean cap'n. I should just like me and my mates tohave the letting o' them guns down again. May we, sir?"

"No. Absurd. "

"But we'd get 'em up again, sir. "

"Wait till the enemy have gone, " said Roy, "and then we'll see. "

A portion of the afternoon was devoted to taking up the necessaryammunition and re-arranging the top platform they had to prepare for theguns; and just at dusk, after the sentinels had been doubled, a strongparty stood in the gate-way, armed with shovel and pick, waiting for thebridge to be lowered. Another party had a number of beams; and, lastly, already drawn up, stood a guard prepared to watch over the safety of theworkers, and hand them weapons for their defence, if, perchance, theywere seen by the enemy, and an attempt made to rush in. 

But no sign was given to warn the parliamentarians, and Roy and thesecretary stood on the platform of the great gate-way, watching theenemy, till, in the dim light, a body of men marched to the front, halted a quarter of a mile from the gate; a large square was rapidlymarked out with pegs, and then an order seemed to be given, for theparty began at once to dig and throw up a breastwork, evidently for theshelter of their guns. 

Master Pawson watched everything eagerly, and kept on pointing out whatwas going on, while Roy leaned upon one of the guns, saying, "I've beenwondering whether these guns will carry as far as that work they aremaking--I mean so as to hit hard. "

"They think they will not, " said the secretary, "and have placed theirbattery just out of reach. "

"How do you know?" said Roy, sharply. 

"I--oh, of course, I don't know, " said Master Pawson; "it is only what Ijudge from seeing them make their battery there. "

"Oh, I see, " said Roy, quietly. And he thought no more of the remarkjust then. He waited till the figures of the men digging grew more andmore indistinct, and then quite invisible from where they stood; and hewas just about to descend, when the sergeant joined them, to say, respectfully--

"We're all ready, sir, and I've got some more poles and planks out ofthe wood-house. "

"Then we'll start at once, " said Roy; "but I'll have these guns mannedat once to cover our working-party. "

Ben coughed. 

"You don't think that's right?" said Roy, quickly. 

"Well, sir, I wouldn't have presumed to interfere with my commandingofficer's orders 'fore any one else. But--"

"Now don't talk nonsense, Ben, " said Roy, warmly. "There's no one herebut Master Pawson, who is as anxious about preserving the place as weare. "

"Indeed, I am, " said the secretary, earnestly. 

"So don't let's have any of that silly ceremony. I wish you wouldn'tpretend to believe I was so conceited. "

"I don't, captain, " said Ben, abruptly; "only want you to see whenyou're wrong. "

"Then speak out at once. Now then; you don't think it worth while toman these guns now?"

"No, sir. If they hear us at work, and attack, we've got to retreatover the bridge fast as we can, and get it hoisted. Say you've gotthese guns manned and loaded, a shot or two might check the attackingparty; but how in the dark are we to know when it is best to fire? Howare we to take aim? And what's to prevent our hitting friends insteadof enemies. "

"Fire high, over their heads. "

"That's wasting two good charges for the sake of making a noise. Idon't think I'd trouble about them to-night, sir. "

"No; you're right. --Eh, Master Pawson?" said Roy. 

"I don't much understand these things, " said the secretary; "but itsounds the more sensible idea. You're not offended by my speaking out?"

"_No_; but I soon shall be if you all treat me as if I thought ofnothing but dressing up as a soldier, and wanting to have my own wayover matters where I'm wrong. Come along, down. "

Roy led the way down through the corner turret, Master Pawson followingand Ben coming last; while, as they wound round the narrow spiral, thesecretary turned his head to whisper--

"He'll make a splendid officer, Martlet. "

The only reply he obtained was a very hog-like grunt; then Ben spoke tohimself:

"I wish to goodness you were along o' the enemy, or anywhere but here;you're supposed to be a friend, but somehow I can't never feel as if youare one. My cantank'rousness, I s'pose. Not being a scholard like you, maybe. Anyhow, though, I'm more use just now than you are; not but whatthat's easy, for you aren't none at all. "

By this time they were down in the gate-way once more, where theportcullis was raised as silently as possible in the darkness, thebridge lowered, and the heavily laden working-party, followed by theirguard marched slowly and silently out; a second strong guard was postedat the far end of the bridge to cover the retreat if one should have tobe made--these last being under the command of the corporal; and MasterPawson volunteered in a whisper to stay with the men. Roy acquiesced, feeling rather glad to be without his company. 

Next a halt was called, and all listened as they gazed out in thedarkness in the direction of the enemy. Then feeling how commanding aposition the latter had in the possession of their horsemen to act asscouts, and who might approach very near unseen, and discover the plansof the night, Roy gave orders for the guard at the end of the bridge toadvance two men, to station them as sentries at equal distances, to keepin touch with the working-party. 

"Fiddler's right, " growled Ben, to himself. "He will make a splendidofficer one of these days. "

The next minute the work was silently begun, the guard being thrown outin a half-moon formation in front of the outer gate-way which coveredthe bridge. 

Ben's plans were very simple. He had the heaviest beams they hadbrought stretched across the gate-way, as high as they could reachoverhead, and propped against the masonry on either side with shorterbeams; then poles, planks, and fagots were stretched in a slope from theground to the crossing timbers, so as to make a scarp; and, as soon asthis was done, shovel and pick were set to work to dig a deep wideditch, the earth from which was thrown up over the wood; while men oneither side filled baskets and carried their loads to pile upon theslope as well. 

It was roughly done work, but every shovelful added to the strength ofthe bank, which rapidly grew in thickness as the hours glided on, theworkers being relieved from time to time to do duty as guards, while theguard took their turn at shovelling and filling. 

There was no halting, the men having refreshments served out to them byRoy's forethought as they were relieved; and so the work went on tilltowards dawn, when a couple of men were strengthening the bank frombehind with short pieces of wood wedged up against the crossbeams, asthe weight of the earth began to make them bend. 

"You'll have to set a party to work by daylight, filling up on thisside, Master Roy, " said Ben, quietly. "If we heap up earth and turfhere, it will be the best support, and a regular trap for all theirballs. "

"I begin to fear that as soon as they begin to fire they will batter itall to pieces, Ben. "

"Dessay they'll damage it a bit, sir; but if they do, we must mend it;and every night we work, we can get it stronger and more earthy. Nothing like soil to swallow balls. Of course it's no use as a defence, because the enemy could come round either end; but it'll do what'swanted, sir--stop the shot from hitting the bridge-chains and smashingthrough the grating. Hello! what's that?"

_That_ was a challenge, followed by a shot, and the rush of feet as thesentries thrown out ran back. This was followed by the trampling ofhoofs, and the shouting of orders, as a small body of horse made a dashat the working-party, sweeping by the gate, but only to be received by ascattered volley as they were dimly seen riding out of the blackdarkness and disappearing again. But not without coming to the closestof close quarters, for there was the clashing noise of swords strikingagainst steel, and, in the brief time occupied by their passing, blowswere returned amidst angry shouting, and several dull thuds told thatthe blows had taken effect on horse or man. 

It was merely the work of moments, the charge having been delivered fromthe left by a party of mounted men who had evidently been reconnoitringalong by the edge of the moat, and came up at a slow walk unheard by thesentries on the walls. Then, finding the working-party before them, they had charged and galloped clear. 

Roy fully expected another attack, for which he was now well prepared, the workers having seized their weapons; but all was still, and he wasarguing with himself as to whether it would not be as well to work ontill daybreak, when a voice from out of the darkness said, faintly--

"Will some 'un come and lend me a hand?"

"Sam Donny!" cried Roy, and, in company with Ben, he ran forward forquite forty yards before they came upon the man lying prone upon theearth. 

"Why, Sam!" cried Roy; "are you hurt?"

"Well, it's only a scratch, sir; but it do hurt, and it's a-bleedinglike hooroar. One on 'em chopped at me with his sword. I'd only got apick, you see; but I hit at him with that, and somehow it got stuck, andI was dragged ever so far before I had to let go. He's got the pick inhis big saddle, I think. But I'll pay for it, sir, or get you a newone. "

"Never mind the pick, Sam. Where are you hurt?"

"Oh, down here, on my right leg, sir. He made a big cut at me; but I'llknow my gen'leman again. I'll have a sword next time and pay him back;and so I tell him. " Ben was down upon his knees, busy with a scarf, binding the wound firmly, a faint suggestion of the coming day makinghis task easier; and, summoning help, a rough litter was formed of aplank, and the wounded man rapidly carried in over the bridge. 

That brought the defensive operations to an end, for Roy withdrew hismen into the castle, and the daylight showed their rough work, whichpretty well secured the gate-way; but it also displayed the work of theenemy, who had constructed a well-shaped earthwork, out of whoseembrasures peered a couple of big guns. 

The rapidly increasing light, too, showed something more, for about acouple of hundred yards from the outworks, a horse, saddled and bridled, lay upon its side, quite dead; for the terrible stroke the miller's manhad delivered with his pickaxe had struck into the horse's spine. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

LADY ROYLAND TURNS NURSE. 

Roy was face to face with the first of the stern realities of war, as hehurried into the long chamber beneath the eastern rampart, which LadyRoyland had set apart for the use of any of the men who might, she said, "turn ill. "

Poor Sam Donny had fainted away before he reached the hospital-room, andupon Roy entering, eager to render assistance, it was to find himselfforestalled by Lady Royland, who, with the old housekeeper, attended tothe wounded man. 

Lady Royland hurried to her son, as he appeared at the door. 

"No, " she said, firmly, "not now: leave this to us. It is our duty. "

"But, mother, do you understand?" protested Roy. 

"Better, perhaps, than any one here, " she replied. "Go to your duties;but come by-and-by to see how the poor fellow is. It will cheer him. "

Roy could not refuse to obey the order, and hurried back to meet Ben onthe way to the sufferer's side. 

"Not go in?" said the sergeant. "Her ladyship says so? Oh, very well--then of course it is all right. "

"But I feel so anxious, " said Roy; "my mother is not a chirurgeon. "

"More aren't we, Master Roy; but she's what's just as good--a splendidnurse. So's old Grey's wife; so Sam Donny's in clover. I was being abit anxious about him, for fear Master Pawson was doing the doctoring, and I'd rather trust myself. "

"But the wound--the terrible wound?" cried Roy. 

"Tchah! Nothing terrible about that, captain. Just a clean sword-cut. You've cut your finger many a time, haven't you?"

"Of course. "

"Well, did you want a doctor? No; you had it tied up tightly, and leftit alone. Then it grew together again!"

"Yes, yes, yes, " cried Roy, impatiently. "But this was a terrible slashon the poor fellow's thigh. You saw how horribly it bled. "

"Come, Master Roy, we're both soldiers, and we mustn't talk like this. I saw his leg bleed, and stopped it, but it wasn't horrible. Leg's onlylike a big finger, and a strong healthy chap soon grows together again. You mustn't take any notice of a few cuts. They're nothing. What we'vegot to mind is the cannon-balls. Now a wound from one of them isterrible, because you see they don't cut clean, but break bones and doall kinds of mischief. Well, we mustn't talk away here, but see to themen, and get ready for what's to come. "

"Do you think they'll attack us to-day?"

"Yes, sir; and as soon as they've finished their two-gun battery. Now, by rights, we ought to go and destroy that work, and spike their guns;but they've got the advantage of us with all that horse, and if we triedthey'd cut us up before we could get at it. Only chance is to try anddo it at night, if we can't dismount the guns with ours. "

A hasty breakfast was eaten, and then the sergeant went up to the newlymounted guns on the top of the square tower, where Roy promised to joinhim as soon as he had been to visit the wounded man. 

"Tell him I mean to come as soon as I can, my lad, " said Ben, "but itwon't do him any good for me to come now. Wounded man's best left alonetill he gets over his touch of fever. But tell him I'm sorry he's down, and that I shall very much miss my best gunner. It'll please him, andit's quite true. "

Roy nodded, and in due time went to the hospital-room, where he tappedlightly, and the door was opened by the old housekeeper, who lookedrather pale; but Lady Royland, who was seated by the wounded man'sbedside, rose and came to her son. 

"Yes, " she said; "go and speak to him; but don't stay many minutes, forhe must not talk much. A few words from you, though, will do him good. "

Roy glanced towards the bed, which was close to one of the windowslooking out on the court-yard garden, and he could see that the man waswatching him intently. 

"Go to him. I'll leave you and come back when I think you have beenhere long enough. "

The door closed behind Lady Royland and her old assistant as Roy madefor the couch, expecting to see a painful sight of agony and terror;but, as he approached, the man's countenance expanded into a broad grin. 

"Don't be hard on a poor fellow, captain, " he said, just as Roy wasready with a prepared speech about being sorry to see the man in sogrievous a condition. 

"Hard upon you, Sam! What for?"

"Sneaking out o' all the fun like this here! 'Taren't my fault, youknow. I didn't want to stop in bed; but my lady says I must, and thatshe'll report me to you if I don't obey orders. I say, let me get up, sir. It's just foolishness me lying here. "

"Foolishness! What! with that bad wound?"

"Bad, sir? Why, you don't call that bad. If he'd cut my head off, I'dha' said it was. "

"How?" cried Roy, unable to repress a smile. 

"How, sir? Why--oh! o' course not. Didn't think o' that; I s'pose Icouldn't then. But I say, Master Roy, sir--I mean cap'n, I'm justashamed o' myself letting her ladyship wait on the likes o' me!"

"Why should you be, Sam? Haven't you been risking your life to defendus?"

"Me? No, sir, not as I knows on, " said the man, staring. 

"Well, I do know; and now you are not to talk. "

"Oh, sir! If I'm to be here I must talk. "

"You must not, Sam. There, I came to see how you were. "

"Quite well, thank ye kindly, sir. "

"You are not. You have a bad wound. "

"But I aren't, Master Roy. It's on'y a bit cut; and I want to have astick and come up on the tower in case we have to work that gun. "

"If you want to help to work that gun again, Sam, you will have to liestill and let your wound heal. "

"Master Roy!--I mean oh, cap'n--it's worse than the wound to hear that. "

"We can't help it. Tell me, are you in much pain?"

"Oh, it hurts a bit, sir; but if I was busy I should forget that, and--"

_Crash_!--_Boom_!

A strange breaking sound, and the rattling of the windows as a heavyreport followed directly after, and Roy sprang from the chair he hadtaken by the wounded man's couch. 

"On'y hark, sir--that was my gun atop o' the gate tower begun firing, and me not there. "

"Be patient, Sam, " cried Roy, excitedly. "It was not one of our guns, but the enemy's, and the fight has begun in earnest. Good-bye, and liestill. "

He was half across the room as he said this, and the door opened toadmit Lady Royland, looking deadly pale. 

"Roy, my boy, " she cried, in a low, pained voice, as she caught hishands; "they are firing. "

"Yes, mother; and so will we, " cried the lad, excitedly. 

"You--you will not expose yourself rashly, " she whispered; "you willtake care?"

"I'm going to try not to do anything foolish, mother, " he said; "but Imust be with the men. "

She clung to him wildly, and her lips trembled as she tried to speak;but no words came, and Roy bent forward, kissed her, and tried towithdraw his hands, but they were too tightly held. 

_Boom_! came another report following closely upon a peculiar whizzingsound, apparently over the open window. 

"Another gun from the enemy, and we're doing nothing, " said Roy, impatiently. "Mother, don't stop me; they will think I'm afraid. Imust be with the men. "

Lady Royland drew a deep breath, and her face became fixed and firm oncemore, though the pallor seemed intensified. 

"Yes, " she said, quickly, as she threw her arms about her son for abrief embrace; "you must be with your men, Roy. Go, and remember myprayers are with you always. Good-bye!"

"Just for a while, " he cried. "You shall soon have news of how we aregoing on. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

GOING UNDER FIRE. 

Roy ran out of the room, leaving the old housekeeper, who was waitingoutside, to close the door, and dashed down the few stairs and out intothe court-yard, where the greater part of their little force was drawnup on either side of the gate-way, looking very serious and troubled;but as soon as he appeared they burst into a cheer, to which Royanswered by waving his hand. 

"The game has begun, " he cried. 

"Yes, sir, " said one of the troopers, who with Farmer Raynes was incommand of the men; "first shot struck the tower full, and splintereddown some stone. Better mind how you cross the gate-way. "

"Yes, " said Roy, quickly; "I will. " And he ran across to the door-wayat the foot of the big spiral, reaching it just as a shot came whizzingoverhead, and a heavy report followed. 

"Third, and not one from us, " muttered Roy, as he hurried up thestairway to reach the platform at the top, and found Ben Martlet and thetroop-corporal from his father's regiment, each busy with one of theguns, arranging wedges under the breeches, and assisted by the men toldoff to work each piece, while two more now came to the turret door-way, bearing fresh charges ready when wanted. 

Ben looked up and smiled grimly as Roy appeared, and the boy cried, excitedly--

"Three shots from them, and you doing nothing. "

_Rush_!--_Boom_!

Roy ducked down his head, for the rushing noise seemed to be close overhim; and as he raised it again, flushing with shame and glancing sharplyround to see what impression his flinching had made on the men around, Ben said, quietly--

"Four, sir; and you see on'y one hit us; the earthwork has thrown allthe others upward. That last one was nigh to a hundred foot overhead. "

"A hundred feet! and I flinched, " thought Roy. "But why don't youfire?" he cried, aloud. 

"Thought I'd wait for you, sir, and that you'd like the first shot. "

"Yes, of course, " cried the boy, excitedly. 

"And we haven't wasted time, sir; corp'ral and me's been pretty busy, getting what we thinks about the right depression of the muzzles, foryou see we're a good height up here. I don't know that we shall beright, but we can soon get the range; and if you'll begin now, sir, I'dlike you to try my gun first. "

"Ready!" cried Roy, whose heart began to thump heavily. 

"Like to take a squint along her, sir, first?" said Ben. 

"No; I'll trust to your aim. "

"Then, stand fast there!" cried Ben; and taking the port-fire from theman who held it, he presented it to the young castellan, who glanced atthe earthwork, where he could see men busy, and a couple of squadrons oftroopers drawn up some distance back on either side; and then, settinghis teeth hard, he let the sparkling fuse fall softly on the touch-holeof the gun. 

There was a flash, a great ball of smoke, the gun rushed backward, andthe report seemed to stun Roy, whose ears rang, and a strange singingnoise filled his head. 

Ben said a few words, and leaned over the battlement, sheltering hiseyes to watch the effect of the shot, as the smoke rose and began tospread. Then he turned and shouted something; but what it was Roy couldnot hear, neither could he catch a word that was uttered by thetrooper-corporal, though the movement of his lips suggested that he wasspeaking. 

"Can't hear you, " shouted Roy, as loudly as he could; and the mansmiled, and pointed to the port-fire and the second gun. 

That was clear enough to understand; so Roy took a couple of stepstowards the breech, and as the men stood drawn up in regular form oneither side, he once more touched the priming. 

Another flash, puff, and deafening roar, which he heard quite plainly;and oddly enough it seemed to have had the effect of restoring his earsto their customary state, for, in spite of the tremendous singing andcracking going on, he heard the order given to the men to stop thevents, sponge, and begin to reload. 

"Just a shade more up, " said Ben; "and yours wants a bit more than mine, corporal. --See where the shot hit, sir?"

"I? No, " said Roy. 

"Both on 'em just in front of their works, and covered 'em with earthand stones. They all bolted out. Look, they're coming back again, andthey'll give us something directly. "

"Yes, " said the corporal, as the men went on loading; "and those shotshave shown 'em what we can do. Look, sir. "

"Why, they're drawing off those two troops of horse. "

"Yes, sir, " said the corporal; "and if Sir Granby Royland had been incommand they'd never have been there. "

"No, " said Ben, with his lips pinched together; "we could have bowledover two or three of 'em with the guns, but I thought the captain wouldlike to have a try at the earthwork first. --For they're not soldiers, Master Roy. --Are they, corporal?"

The trooper laughed. 

"Just a mob of men scratched together, and put into jerkins andheadpieces, and with swords stuck in their fisties. Why, there aren'tmany of 'em as can ride, " continued Ben. 

The thought occurred to Roy that his own garrison was composed ofextremely raw material, but he said nothing, and Ben went grumbling on:

"I don't say but what they could be made into decent soldiers in time;but they don't seem to have anybody much over them. "

Just then a couple of shots were fired by the enemy, one of which struckthe tower with a tremendous crash, sending splinters of stone flying, and a tiny cloud of dust rose slowly. The other shot went whizzingoverhead. 

"I wouldn't get looking over the edge, Master Roy, sir, " whispered Ben. "Some of those chips of stone might give you an ugly scratch. But thatjust shows what I say's right. They haven't got the right man there orhe'd soon change things. You see they've brought up their guns withorders to batter down our drawbridge and smash the portcullis, thinkingthey'll make you surrender. Don't seem to come into their thick headsthat if they did manage to smash the bridge, they'd be no nearer to usthan before, because we should soon pile up a good breastwork, and pitchevery man back into the moat who swam across. But, as I was going tosay, they've got their orders to batter down the bridge, and they keepat it. We've been hit up here, but only by accident; they never firedstraight at us. Now, if you were in command out there, sir, you'd dosomething different. "

"I should fire straight up here, Ben, and try to silence these guns. "

"Of course you would, sir; just as you're going to silence theirs. "

"And the sooner the better, Ben. They're nearly ready again. "

"Are they, sir? I can't see. My eyes are not so young as yours. Well, we're quite ready; and if you orders, we're going to give it 'em inearnest. "

"Go on, then, " said Roy, "and see if you can't stop their firing. "

Ben smiled grimly, and bent down to regulate the aim he took, while thesame was done with the other gun. The result was that the corporal'sshot went right through the embrasure of the piece to the left, whileBen's went over. 

As the smoke cleared away, a scene of confusion was visible; but the gunon the right was fired directly after, and the shot plunged into thebank of earth raised the previous night. 

"Ah!" grumbled Ben; "you've got the best gun, my lad; there must be atwist in mine, for she throws high. "

"Like to change?" said the corporal. 

"No. I'm going to get used to mine and make her work better. "

Shot after shot was fired from the gate tower, the men warming to theirwork, and the results were very varied; for, in spite of the careexercised and the rivalry between Ben and the corporal, the clumsilycast balls varied greatly in their courses, so that at the end of anhour's firing very little mischief was done on either side. The enemyhad had their earthen parapet a good deal knocked about, and some menhad been injured; but all the advantage they had obtained was thebattering down of some scraps of stone, which lay about the front of thegreat gate-way. 

"Soon clear that away with a broom, " growled Ben; "but I'm a bitdisappointed over these guns, captain. We ought from up here to haveknocked theirs off the carriages by this time. "

"We shall do it yet, " said Roy; and during the next few shots he himselflaid the guns, taking the most careful aim. 

"As I said afore, your eyes are younger and better than mine, MasterRoy, but you don't shoot any more true. --Hullo! what are they doingthere?"

He looked earnestly at the battery, where the men seemed to be extrabusy, and at a solid mass of troops marching on from some hundreds ofyards behind, straight for the castle. 

"They're never mad enough to come and deliver an assault; are they, corp'ral?" cried Ben, excitedly. 

"Seems like it, sergeant. "

Ben turned to Roy with an inquiring look, and he nodded. 

"Do what you think best, " he said. 

What Ben thought best was to withdraw the great wedge which depressedthe muzzle of his gun, the corporal doing the same; and then, after acareful aim-taking, both pieces roared out a salute to the cominginfantry, which was marching forward in steady array. 

The balls went skipping along after striking the ground a hundred yardsor so beyond the enemy's battery, and, ricochetting, darted right forthe solid moving mass of men. The effect was ludicrous, for in aninstant they could be seen from the tower to be in a terrible state ofconfusion, breaking and running in all directions, and, as it were, melting away. 

"First time they've ever faced cannon-ball, " said Ben, with a smile. "I've seen better men than they after more training do the same. Theywon't do it next time, though. "

As far as could be seen, few people were hurt; but the shots had theireffect, for the men, as they were restored to something like order, weremarched back behind a patch of woodland, and the duel between the twopairs of guns was recommenced with a couple of shots from the battery, both of which struck the tower high up. 

"Aha!" cried Ben, with another of his grim smiles; "got tired, then. "

"Does not seem like it, Ben, " said Roy. 

"Tired of plumping balls into our earthwork, and doing what they oughtto have begun with. --Come, corporal, it's time we did better. "

"Let's do it, then, " said the man, sternly. 

"Look here, Master Roy, " said Ben, in a low tone; "they've just sent outtwo parties of horse to right and left, and it strikes me they're goingto try something on the other side of us when they meet. Will you takea round of the ramparts, and see as all's right, and keep the lads onthe lookout?"

"Let me fire these two shots first, " said Roy. 

He fired both guns, and there was a tremendous mass of earth sentflying; but that seemed to be the only mischief done; and then as Bensuperintended the reloading, which began to be carried out now with afair amount of speed, he said, in a low tone--

"Now, capt'n, will you take a look round? You ought to be everywhere atonce now. "

At that moment a shot just grazed one of the crenelles, and hurtled awayclose overhead, making the men wince, as it gave them a better idea ofthe enemy's powers than they had had before. 

"Yes, that's why you want me to go, Ben, " whispered Roy. "You think itis getting dangerous here. Thank you; I'll stay. I daresay the men areall right. "

"Well, sir, I did think something of the kind; but it's real truth. Youought to be everywhere, and you must really give a look round and tell'em to fire at any of the enemy who come too near, specially at thetroops of horse; it'll teach 'em to keep their distance. "

Another shot struck the tower, and the splinters of stone rattled down, making Roy hesitate to leave. But he felt that the old sergeant wasright, and, descending to the ramparts, he visited the south-west tower, where the men in charge of the guns awaited orders to join in the fray. Then the north-west tower was reached, and here Roy encountered MasterPawson. 

"I am glad you've come, " he cried. "There's a strong body of horsegathering over at the foot of the hill to the north. "

"Whereabouts?" said Roy, hurrying through. "Anywhere near the oldruins?"

"Ruins? ruins?" said the secretary, looking at him in a peculiar manner. "Ah, I see now: you mean those old stones on the top. No; they are onthe level ground below. Hadn't we better fire?"

"As soon as they come within reach, send a ball at them. Let the gun bewell elevated, so as to fire over their heads. We want to scare themoff, and not to destroy. "

As he spoke, Roy ascended with the secretary to the platform, and there, well within range, saw a strong squadron of horse approaching; whileRoy's keen eyes detected a flash or two as of the sun from steel inamongst the trees at the foot of the hill. 

"They have infantry there, " he said. "And these horse must be coming tofeel their way for them, and to see if we are prepared. "

The men at the guns watched their young captain eagerly; and as soon ashe gave orders for one of the guns to be used as he had directed, he wasobeyed with an alacrity which showed how eager the people were to joinin the fray commenced on the other side of the castle. 

A shot soon went whizzing overhead, and caused a general movement amongthe horsemen; but they steadied again, and advanced. Upon a second shotbeing fired directly with the muzzle depressed, a little cloud of dustwas seen to rise in front of the advancing squadron, which was suddenlythrown into confusion; and directly after the body of cavalry dividedinto two and began to retire, leaving an unfortunate horse strugglingupon the ground; while after a close scrutiny Roy made out the fact thattwo men were riding upon one horse in the rear of the right-hand troop. 

The men on the tower gave a loud cheer, trifling as their success hadbeen, and were eager to fire again; but Roy was content to show theenemy that the defenders were well prepared let them advance where theywould, for he knew that the slaying of a few men by a lucky shot wouldnot have much influence on his success. 

He stayed till the men had disappeared beyond the trees on the hillslope; and then, enjoining watchfulness, completed his visit to theother towers, descended to report how matters were progressing to hismother, who announced that her patient slept, and lastly hurried back towhere the enemy were pounding away at the gate-way, and Ben and his mensteadily replying. 

"Hurt?" he cried excitedly, as he saw that one of the men had a roughbandage about his arm. "You had better go below at once. "

"What! for that, sir?" said the man, staring; "it's only a scratch froma bit of stone. "

The injury was very slight; but during Roy's absence the enemy hadmanaged to send one shot so truly that it had struck the front corner ofthe embrasure of the corporal's gun, and splintered away a great pieceof the stone, many fragments still lying about on the platform. 

"Yes, sir; they're shooting better than we are, or their guns are moretrue. Our powder's good, old as it is; but it doesn't matter howcarefully we aim, we can never tell to a foot or two where the shot willhit. They won't go where we want 'em. "

"Well, theirs will not either, Ben, " said Roy, "or they would have donemore mischief to us than this. "

"That's true, sir, " grumbled the old soldier; "and after all said anddone, I don't think much of big guns. If you could get 'em close up tothe end of a ridgement, and the men would stand still, you could bowl alot of 'em over like skittles; but there's a lot of waste going on withthis sort of firing, and if it warn't for the show we make, and whichkeeps 'em off, we might as well sit down and smoke our pipes, and watchwhere the balls went that they send. "

"But you must keep on, Ben. You may have a lucky shot yet. "

"Oh, we aren't done so very badly since you went, sir! Soon as they'ddone that bit o' damage to the top there, as'll cost Sir Granby a lot o'money to repair, the corporal sent 'em an answer which made 'em carryaway four men to the rear. "

"Killed?" said Roy, excitedly. 

"Ah! that's more than we can say, sir. They didn't send us word. He'sgot the best gun, you see, sir; and I don't take so well to this sort ofwork. I want a good horse between my knees, and your father ahead of meto lead. Why, if he was here with his ridgement, he'd take us alonglike a big brush, and sweep this mob o' rebels off the country, as cleanas one of the maids would do it with a broom. I say, sir; try yourluck. The men like to see you have a shot or two. You boys are solucky. "

Roy tried and tried again as the day wore on, and the duel between towerand battery went on, but tried in vain. The men were relieved, and thefresh relay kept up a steady fire, shot for shot with the enemy; butnothing was done beyond knocking the earth up in all directions; whileas fast as the face of the battery was injured, they could see spadesand baskets at work, and the earth was replaced by more. Ademonstration was made by the enemy on the sides of the castle, as if totry what was to be expected there; but a shot or two from the cornertowers forced the horsemen to retire; and night was approaching fastwhen Ben and the corporal relieved the men who had been firing all theafternoon, and Roy was with them just as the old soldier took aim forhis first shot. 

"I've given her an extra charge of powder, sir, " he said. "I'd ha' giveher a double dose, on'y it would be a pity to burst her. Like to runyour eye along before she's fired, sir?"

"No; you try this time, Ben. "

As Roy spoke, there was a tremendous crash, followed by the report ofthe enemy's gun; and the rattling down of the splintered stone told howheavy the impact of the shot had been. 

"More damage, " growled Ben. "They're a-shooting ever so much betterthan us, corporal. "

The next minute he applied the port-fire, and the gun sprang back, as atremendous report followed. 

"Made her kick quite savage, sir, " said Ben, with a chuckle. "She saysit's more powder than she likes. "

He stepped to the embrasure as the smoke slowly rose, and gazed out atthe enemy's battery. 

"Come and look, Master Roy, " he said, with a grim smile. --"I say, corporal, that's one to me. "

The men raised a tremendous cheer, for plainly enough seen in the dimevening light, the interior of the battery was in confusion; and as thesmoke quite cleared away, they saw that one of the guns was lyingseveral feet back behind the shattered carriage, and at right angles toits former position. 

"Give 'em yours now, my lad, " growled Ben; and the corporal fired; buthis shot went right over the battery and struck up the earth twentyyards behind. 

"Depress the muzzle, man!" cried Roy. 

"I did, sir, more than usual, " said the corporal, rather sulkily. 

"Yes, sir, " said Ben; "he's a better gunner than me. Mine was on'y abit o' luck, for I raised mine this time. "

While the guns were being reloaded, Roy and his lieutenant watched theproceedings in the battery, waiting to withdraw when the enemy seemed tobe about to fire. 

But no further shot was sent roaring and whizzing against the tower, and, night falling, it soon became impossible to see what was going on. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

A STARTLING PORTENT. 

That same night the proceedings at the earthwork were repeated undercover of a strong guard, the greater portion of the little garrisonbeing engaged in repairing and strengthening the great earthen bank fromthe inner side; and this was carried out till dawn without the slightestinterruption. 

When the day broke, the reason for this was plain, for the enemy'sbattery had been carefully repaired; and just at sunrise a troop ofhorse was seen coming from the encampment of the main body of the force, half a mile away. As they came nearer, it was made out why theyapproached. For the troop was the escort of a couple of guns, eachdrawn by six horses; and an hour later a fresh embrasure was unmasked, and there were three guns ready to try and solve the problem unsolved onthe previous day. 

"Shall we hoist up another gun, Ben?" said Roy; but the old fellow shookhis head. 

"No, sir; I don't see any good in it. You know it's just a chance abouthitting, and though they keep touching us, what good do they do? Theymay hammer away at the gate tower till they've half knocked it down, andit'll take 'em about a month to do it. And what better will they bethen? They won't stand an inch nearer to getting in than they doto-day. Let 'em fire. You give 'em a shot now and then to tell 'emyou're at home. Don't you waste more good ammunition than you canhelp. "

Roy took his lieutenant's advice; and for a week the siege went on withthe accompaniment of demonstrations of cavalry round the castle, andapproaches by night, all of which kept the little garrison well on thealert, but did not advance the reduction of the stronghold in the least. 

Sam Donny's wound progressed favourably; but the hospital-room wasoccupied as well by three more men, all suffering from cuts andcontusions, caused by the flying chips of stones when a ball struck theedges of the crenelles. 

The routine of the defenders was becoming monotonous, mounting guard, firing a little, and drilling a great deal; for Ben gave the men no restin the way of practising them in the management of their weapons. 

The result was that the condition of the garrison improved day by day, while Lady Royland grew more hopeful as she listened to her son's words. 

"It can't last much longer, mother. Either they'll get tired of tryingto drive us out, or some of the king's forces will come and relieve us. "

Lady Royland shook her head the first time, but the second, Roy added--

"Look here, mother; the news is sure to reach London that we are beingbesieged. Then father will hear it; and do you suppose he will standstill? Either he will come himself, or see that help is sent. "

Roy repeated his encouraging words one day at dinner, in the presence ofthe secretary, a full three weeks after the enemy had sat down beforethe castle, and Master Pawson laughed and rubbed his hands. 

"They must give in, " he said. "They'll never take the place. "

"Never!" said Roy, triumphantly; "But I say, Master Pawson, I'm going toask a favour of you. "

"What is it?" said the secretary, eagerly. 

"I want you to take a turn at the watch-keeping now and then. "

"Keep watch?" said the secretary, staring. 

"Yes, just now and then, so as to relieve a man and give the poor fellowa good sleep. "

"Master Pawson will, I am sure, " said Lady Royland, gravely. "He hassaid that he would do anything he could to help us in our time of need. "

"Of course, Lady Royland, of course, " he replied, hastily. "I onlyhesitated because I am so helpless--such a poor creature over matterslike this. "

"It doesn't want anything but to keep awake, and a sharp lookout. Youought to be able to do that, sir. You've had plenty of sleep lately, going to bed at nine, and sometimes at eight. "

"Yes, I--I often go to bed very soon, Roy. My head seems to require agreat deal of sleep. I suppose it's from studying so much. But I'llcome and keep watch--after to-night. You will not want me to-night?"

"Why not to-night?"

"I don't feel prepared for it. My head is bad, and I fear that I shouldnot be of much use. To-morrow night, if you want me, I will gladly comeand take any duty you wish me to perform. "

"Very well, Master Pawson, " said Roy. "To-morrow night, then. I say, though, " he added, merrily, "you had better come to the armoury withme. "

_Bang_--_bang_! in rapid succession went the guns from the battery, followed a moment or two later by the third. 

"That's right!" cried Roy. "Hammer away; only you might let us have ourdinner in peace. "

"Yes, " said the secretary, with a forced laugh; "they might let herladyship have her dinner in peace. "

"Oh, mother!" cried Roy, "don't look so white and anxious. You ought tobe used to the firing by now. "

Lady Royland gave him a wistful look, and smiled faintly. 

"They are only powdering down the stone; and I daresay the king will payfor it all being done up again. "

"No doubt he will, " said the secretary. "But you were saying somethingabout the armoury. Shall I have to see to the men's weapons beingserved out?"

"No, " said Roy, merrily. "I want you to select a helmet, breastplate, and back-piece to fit you, and a good sword. "

"Oh, no, no!" said the secretary, quickly. "I am not a man of war. "

"But you'll have to be, while you are on guard. "

"Not like that. I might wear a good sharp sword; in fact, I did pickout one, and I have it in my room. "

"Well done!" cried Roy, clapping his hands. "There, mother, who's evergoing to think of surrendering when Master Pawson makes preparationslike that. --I say, don't be too hard on the enemy, sir. Try and wound;don't cut off heads. "

"Ah, you are making fun of me, Roy! But never mind. Don't you forgetthat by-and-by, when the fighting's over, I shall take my revenge. "

"What--over lessons? Very well. I'm having a capital holiday from theold Latin. "

The bent of the conversation turned, and the dinner ended in a verycheerful manner, for as time went on, Lady Royland could not helpfeeling hopeful. For want of the necessary war-material, the enemyseemed to be able to do no more in the way of a regular siege, and theirefforts with the battery were becoming somewhat relaxed. No more menhad been injured, and the sufferers in hospital were doing well. Infact, the general opinion in the castle was that before very long theenemy would, if they found they could not starve the defenders out, giveup the attack, the castle being too hard a nut to crack. 

That evening, while the firing was going on in a desultory way, Royvisited the hospital, meeting the secretary on the way. 

"You've been to see the poor fellows?" said Roy, smiling. 

"Yes--yes--they look white and ill. It is very sad, Roy. Such finestrong men, too. But what do you think of my going to read to them foran hour or two every day?"

"Not Latin?" said Roy, laughing. 

"No, no, of course not. Something about the old wars. "

"Capital!" cried Roy. "Do!"

"And I might take my viol over, and play to them a little. "

"No, no; I say, don't do that, " cried Roy. 

"Eh? Why not? It would be so soothing. "

"No; it wouldn't. Only make them miserable. They don't understandsarabands and corantos; and you can't play jigs. "

"No, " said the secretary, grandly, but with a peculiar look. "Perhapsthey would not appreciate good music. And you are right; I do notunderstand jigs. "

He nodded and crossed to the door-way leading up to his room, and Roydirectly after encountered old Jenk. 

"Hallo! where are you going?"

"Eh, eh? Master Roy? Oh, only up on to the platform to see the firingfor a bit!"

"I say, don't you get shot. "

"Me? Me? No, sir; they won't hit me. Look--look!" he cried, pointingupward. "Flag--ladyship's flag! Blows out bravely. See--we'll neversurrender. "

"Yes. Never surrender, Jenk. Too good soldiers for that. "

"Ay, ay, ay!" cried the old man. "Too good soldiers for that. Braveboy! Your father's son. But you'll have my little gate-house built upagain, Master Roy, when they've gone, eh? They've knocked it about adeal. But old soldiers don't mind scars. "

"Oh, yes; we'll have it put right when we've made the enemy run. "

"Yes, yes, make 'em run, Master Roy; and I'll tell your father what abrave soldier Ben Martlet and I have made you. "

The old man chuckled and went in at the door-way to mount the spiralstairs, while Roy turned and looked up at the flag, well blown out bythe evening breeze. 

"Poor old fellow! Helped to make me a soldier, has he? Well, itpleases him to think so. "

The lad ran his eye along the side of the court-yard, sadly tramplednow, and fancied he saw a head quickly withdrawn at one of the narrowwindows of the north-west tower; but he was not sure, and it did notimpress him then as he went on to the hospital-room, where the woundedmen received him eagerly, Sam Donny being the most demonstrative, andending by begging that he might be ordered on duty again. 

"Another week at least, first, " said Roy. "Only too glad to have youall back. "

Roy stayed till it was dark, and he was descending to the court-yardwhen a loud shouting below took his attention, and upon running out hefound a knot of men eagerly talking and looking up at the gate tower. 

"What is it? What's wrong?" said the boy, excitedly. 

"The flag, sir, " cried Farmer Raynes. "Did you order it to be pulleddown?"

"I? No!" cried Roy, excitedly. "I said it was to be kept up night andday. Who has dared to do this?"

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

BY A TRAITOR'S HAND. 

The last words were spoken as he hurried across to the door-way in thegate tower; and before he reached the platform at the top, he could hearBen Martlet storming and shouting at the men, who were very silent; butfrom the noise of footsteps it was evident that they were running to andfro. 

As Roy reached the top of the stairs, it was to find his exit on to theplatform blocked by Ben and the corporal, the former being decked withthe flag hanging over his shoulder like a mantle. They were evidentlybusy with the halyards at the little opening, down beside which theflag-pole butt was fixed in iron loops, and through which window theflag was hoisted and the halyards secured. 

"What's the meaning of this?" cried Roy, breathlessly. "The enemy willthink we have surrendered. "

"Let 'em come, then, sir, and we'll show 'em we haven't, " roared Ben, fiercely. 

"But why was the flag hauled down?"

"Wasn't hauled down, sir. Come down with a run right on to the leads. "

"What! Did the line break?"

"I wish it had broke, sir. You just look at that!" And he held out anend of the thin, strong hempen cord which ran through a pulley at thetop of the pole, and to which the flag was always attached. 

"Cut?" cried Roy. 

"Yes, sir; cut. Some one has sawed through it with a sharp knife; and Iwant to know who it was. "

"Some one up here on the platform?"

"No, sir; I'll answer for that, " said the corporal. 

"Some one then in the ammunition chamber?"

"Nay; I don't believe any one there would do it, sir, " growled Ben, whowas now busy splicing the line, which came swinging down by the window. 

"How's that?" said Roy, eagerly. 

"What--that rope, sir? One of the lads has swarmed up the flag-staff, and run it over the wheel again, " cried Ben, who now re-attached theflag, well above the splice, and began to haul it up again, the foldsgliding from his shoulder, and out of the window, to rise into sightfrom the platform, where the men greeted it with a hearty cheer. 

"Ha!" ejaculated Ben, as the colours reached the top, and he fastenedthe line. "That don't look like surrendering, sir. "

"No, Ben; but I want to know who dared to cut it. Who has been here?"

"No one but old Jenk, sir. He came and stopped some time, standing inthe door-way, looking on and chattering to us a bit before he wentdown. "

"Oh, but surely he wouldn't have done such a thing as that, Ben!"

"So I say, sir. If he did, it's quite time he was taken over to thechurch, and buried, for he must be out of his wits. "

"Oh, impossible! He couldn't have done it. Are you sure it was cut?"

"Well, sir, you see the end. "

"It must have been frayed by rubbing against the edge of the parapet. "

"Didn't look like it sir; that's all that I can say. "

"Has any one else been here?"

"Not as I know of, sir; but we've been too busy to see, keeping ourfaces to the enemy. I thought I heard some one run down. "

"Well, it was an unfortunate accident, Ben; but you've soon repairedit, " said Roy. And he stepped out on to the platform to look aloft atthe flag, which was once more fluttering and flapping in the breeze; andthen he stepped upon a stone to gaze over towards the enemy's battery tosee if the lowering of the flag had had any effect there. 

But all was quiet. They had evidently ceased firing for the evening, and the shades of night were descending so quickly, that the figures inthe rear of the earthwork were beginning to look dim and indistinct. Away to the right, though, was a shadowy body which seemed to be movingalong towards where the enemy's camp lay, behind the wooded patch ofcountry; and Roy was not long in coming to the conclusion that it was atroop of horse, returning from the neighbourhood of the battery. 

He took a long sweep round, gazing hard at the beautiful woodedlandscape, and the soft calm of the hour, with the sweet moist odours ofevening which were wafted to him by the breeze, had a depressing effect. He found himself thinking of what a sad business it all was, that thepeaceful district should become the scene of war and bloodshed--littleenough of the latter; but who could tell how soon a terrible assaultmight be made upon the place, and their guns would have to be directedso as to mow down the advancing enemy like the hay fell before themower's scythe. 

Away to the west a bright planet was seen blinking in the dark grey sky, but that evening it did not seem to Roy like a star of hope; and when, afew minutes later, there came the faintly heard, mournful cry of an owl, he turned away to descend to the ramparts and walk round so as to visit, according to his custom, each tower in turn, where he was respectfullyquestioned by the men as to the lowering of the flag, and whether it hadany meaning. 

Roy laughed it off; but the fact of this incident impressing the men sostrongly had a bad effect upon him, and he found himself forced to makean effort to fight it back before he joined his mother for the quiethour or so he always spent with her before going on duty or retiring torest. 

But he was not to go straight to her; for on descending to the sadlytrampled garden, he found the secretary slowly walking up and down theleast-injured patch of grass, with his head bent, shoulders rounded, andhis hands behind him, clasped together as if they were manacled. 

He started sharply as Roy came near, actually wincing, and lookingdeadly pale. 

"I wasn't going to hit you, Master Pawson, " said Roy, with a smile. 

"No, of course not; but all this firing has made me nervous. I amafraid I am not at all brave, Roy, and my head is so bad to-night, itmakes me worse. I started just as if you were some enemy, and it sent ashock right through me. "

"Better now?" said Roy, mockingly. 

"Oh, yes, better now; but I'm very glad I do not go on duty to-night. Ithink I shall go to bed very soon, and sleep it off. "

"Best thing; but you'll come with me to have some supper?"

"No, not to-night. Please make my excuses to my lady. It's a sad thingto be so weak of health, Roy. Sadder still to see this lovely gardenspoiled by the trampling of armed men. "

"Yes, it's a great pity, " replied Roy; "but we'll soon set it straightagain as soon as the enemy's sent to the right-about; and who would notsacrifice a few flowers for the sake of king and country?"

"Ah, who, indeed!" cried the secretary, with a slight flush coming intohis cheeks. "Going?"

"Yes; I must join my mother now. "

"And--er--are you on duty to-night?"

"Not till twelve o'clock, " said Roy, frankly. "Then I have to go myrounds, and again at four. I hope the enemy will not disturb us. "

"How can they?" said the secretary. "They cannot deliver an assaultwithout rafts and ladders, or with boats; and we should see theirpreparations long before they could attack us. "

"Yes, I suppose so, " said Roy, thoughtfully. "The only thing I dread isa surprise. "

"Surprise!" cried the secretary, starting violently. "Don't say that. "

"Sorry I did say it, " replied Roy, smiling; "for it made you jump as ifyou had been shot. "

"Yes, Roy; sieges do not agree with me. But whatever made you saythat?"

"Only because I think it possible, in spite of all our precautions, thatthe enemy might find a way to get into the place; that's all. "

"What a horrible idea!" faltered the secretary. 

"Well, I suppose it is, " said Roy; "but don't let it keep you awaketo-night, Master Pawson. Perhaps it is impossible. "

"Impossible? Of course it is. There, good-night. I must go and liedown. "

"And I am late in going to my mother, " said Roy. 

"Then good--good-night. Make your men keep the strictest of watches forall our sakes, my brave young castellan!"

"I will, " said Roy; and each went his way. 

"Now, if I didn't begin to know that Master Pawson really liked me, Ishould have thought he was sneering, " said the lad to himself. "I'malways fancying people look down upon me because I'm such a mere boy. But he's trusty enough, as he has shown us. I wish he hadn't called me`my brave young castellan, ' though. It sounds so sugary and oily. Surprise--surprise?" he thought. "No, they couldn't surprise us, unlessthey got in by a secret passage; and if there were one, they would neverfind it out. If we couldn't, it isn't likely that strangers would. Iwish Ben and I had had another big search. All this put it out of ourheads. I'll ask mother if she thinks it possible there is one. No, Iwill not, " he said to himself, as he reached the door. "It wouldfrighten her into fits. She'd be too nervous to go to sleep, and wantme to let all the men search the dungeons, and make them nervous, too. Bah! It's only an old woman's tale. I don't believe in such things. "

He opened the door, to be welcomed by Lady Royland, who sprang from herchair, and proudly monopolised the task of taking off her son's helmet, cuirass, and back-piece, after unbuckling his sword. 

"My duty, Roy, " she said. "The one I was proud to perform for yourfather. Ah, my boy, if he were only here that I might assist him now!But no news, Roy; no news. It is cruel work. "

"No news is good news, mother, " cried Roy, cheerily. "Come and feed me, for I'm terribly hungry again. "

An attractive meal was waiting; and to have seen mother and son soonafter at the table, no one would have imagined that they were in abeleaguered castle with a strong body of the enemy close at hand. 

Roy sat till the clock struck nine, and then rose. 

"Then you will get no proper sleep to-night, my boy?" said Lady Royland, as she helped her son to resume his arms. 

"Oh, yes; I shall lie down as I am, and jump up at twelve to take theround. I shall be back in my room in a quarter of an hour if the enemyis quiet, and sleep again till four, when I go my round again. I say, isn't it wonderful how one wakes at the right time when one has had alittle practice. "

"Roy, my boy, it is wearing you out. Let me go and see if the men aredoing their duty to-night. "

"What nonsense, mother!" cried the lad, merrily. "Just as if this wasgoing to wear me out. To-morrow night old Ben will make the round, andI shall be snoring in my bed. There, good-night. "

"Good-night, my darling, " cried Lady Royland, pressing him to herbreast. 

"I say, what a hard-hearted creature I must feel with this on, " saidRoy, laughing merrily. 

"I never notice the cuirass, " said Lady Royland, embracing her sonagain. "I only feel my boy's warm, true heart beating against mine. "

She followed him to the door, and he turned and kissed her again, andthen hurried away, depressing his sword-hilt to keep the steel end ofthe scabbard from clinking on the pavement. 

"Why did I do that?" said Roy to himself. "It was not as if--as if--Oh, what nonsense! It's the weather makes me feel low; and she feels lowtoo. I was obliged to try and cheer her up. "

He mounted to the battlements, whence he entered the room over theguard-chamber where, according to custom now, Ben was waiting with hislighted lantern, and wearing his long cloak, one side of which he threwover the light when he took it up. 

"All well, Ben?"

"All's well, sir. Enemy as still as mice. I'm beginning to think thatone of these mornings we shall get up and find they've gone withoutsaying good-bye. "

"Hope you're right, Ben. Ready?"

"Ready, sir. "

"Then march. "

They ascended to the top of the gate tower, where they were challenged, and then descended to the rampart to be challenged by the sentinelposted half-way between the towers, and again by the sentry on eachtower in turn. It was everywhere the same. The men were well upon thelookout, and they had all the same report to give, that everything wasstill and nothing had been seen. 

"You'll have Master Pawson on duty to-morrow night, so as to relieve oneman, Ben, " said Roy, as he completed his round. 

"Won't relieve no man, sir, " said Ben, sourly. "I shall want one towatch that chap to see that he don't do nothing foolish. "

"Ah, you're prejudiced. But I say, Ben, suppose we were surprised, howlong would it take us to man the walls?"

"Couldn't surprise us, sir, " growled the old soldier. "First alarm, themen would be out of the rooms and up atop of the leads at the guns; andall the rest would make for the ramparts, ready to run to any spot thatwas attacked. We're all right, sir, 'cept one thing. "

"What's that?" cried Roy, anxiously. 

"Old Jenk is worrying me, sir. He's been wandering about the rampartsto-night in a curious, crazy way, speaking to nobody, and actingsilly-like. I'm pretty sure it was him as cut that line and let downthe flag. "

"I'll talk to him to-morrow. Good-night till twelve, Ben. I'm tired, and shall be glad of my rest. "

"Good-night till twelve, captain, " said the old soldier; and Roy went tohis room, took off helmet and sword-belt, and threw himself upon acouch, to forget all his low spirits and troubles in less than a minute, falling at once into a deep sleep, from which he started at the firstchime of the tower clock. 

The little lamp was burning dimly now on the mantelpiece, but it gavehim light enough to buckle on his sword; and as he did so, the chimingand striking of the midnight hour went on in the midst of what seemed anunnatural silence, which impressed him. The next moment his helmet wason, and he stepped quickly out into the corridor, to find it full ofarmed men, four of whom dashed at him as his hand flew to his side, andhe drew his sword. 

It was a vain effort; his arms were roughly grasped, and the cry hetried to raise was smothered by a hand pressed upon his mouth; while, bythe light of a lantern raised on high, he saw the figure of thesecretary, who stepped forward and took the sword wrenched from hishand. 

"Thanks, my brave young castellan, " he said, mockingly. "We will takeoff your steel toys and gewgaws by-and-by. One word, though, " he said, in a fierce whisper: "make the slightest sound, and you will be throwninto the moat. Be silent, and we will recollect that you are only aboy, and treat you as one. "

For answer, Roy threw all his strength into one desperate effort, wrenched his head round so that it was clear of the hand pressed uponit, and shrieked out the one word--

"Judas!"

The word seemed to cut into the wretched traitor's brain; and, raisingthe boy's sword, he struck at him; but the blade glanced from theperfectly tempered helmet, and the next moment one who seemed to be anofficer interposed. 

"Prisoners are not treated like that, sir, " he said, sternly. "Whichway now?"

"This, " said the secretary; and he led the way along the corridor, towards the door opening upon the court-yard. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

A DARK NIGHT'S DEEDS. 

At that moment, when Roy would have surrendered his life to have rungout an alarm, the signal of danger, treachery, and hopeless disasterrang out in the form of a shot from the battlements overhead, and thiswas followed by another and another. But as the prisoner was hurriedinto the open air, armed men seemed to be gliding out of the darkness onall sides, their source, as far as he could make out in those agitatedmoments, being the bases of the towers. Then, as the trumpet rang out, fighting began all around the castle at once, not from the outside, butfrom within. Men had evidently crept silently up to the four towers, and gathered there from the corridors to which they had been admitted;and at the sound of the trumpet, a simultaneous attack was made, which, coming from the unguarded rear, and in tremendous, constantly increasingforce, could not fail of being successful. 

Roy stood there in the midst of his mother's once pleasant garden, withthe stars glinting over his head, and guarded by half-a-dozen troopers, listening to the clash of steel, and the firing going on all round wherethe little garrison made desperate efforts to maintain themselves. Butthey could not even grow stronger by joining, for the occupants of eachtower were isolated and driven back as they tried to communicate withtheir officers, who, at the first alarm, tried to lead the men in theguard-room to the gathering point selected in case of emergency. Benhad just lit his lantern, expecting the coming of Roy at twelve, whenthe first shot came; and, shouting an alarm, he drew his sword to dashout, but only to be hurled back, the door-way of the guard-room beingblocked by men; while, when the occupants of the chambers beneath theplatforms of each tower tried to descend, they, too, in spite ofdesperate efforts, were driven upward by the constantly arrivingenemies, who forced them on to the leads by the now useless guns. 

Here, in each case, a desperate encounter went on, which Roy, with hisblood running cold, was able to mentally picture, as he stood therelistening to the wild shouts of the attacking party, the defiant criesof the garrison--the mere handfuls of men who tried to hold their own. 

There was no more firing: all was being done with the keen-edged nakedblade for a few minutes; and this was followed by a wild despairing cryfrom the gate tower, and directly after there was a dull, sickeningcrash which told that a man had been hurled from the parapet into thecourt-yard, where he lay never to move again. 

The shock of this was succeeded by others nearly as terrible, as thestruggle went on at the tops of the different towers; and cry after cryarose, followed by heavy splash after splash, which, Roy interpretedrightly, meant that the victors were driving the defenders over thebattlements into the moat, to sink or swim for life as they could. 

A mad feeling of rage and despair seized upon the boy as he heard allthis, and he struggled desperately with his captors in his endeavours toescape, and try to aid the poor fellows fighting to the death in theirvain efforts to defend the place. 

Vain, too, were his efforts; for a couple of men held him while otherswrenched his arms behind his back, and tearing off his gay scarf, boundhis elbows so tightly together that he could not stir, but had to listenhelplessly to the yells and despairing cries that arose towards thesilent vault of heaven. 

It seemed to Roy like an hour of horror, during which he was listeningto what seemed to be the massacre of the men, every one of whom helooked upon as a friend. But it was only a matter of a few minutes atthe most, before a shout rang out from the top of the gate tower, to beanswered with a burst of wild "hurrahs" from the four corners, and theramparts as well; for the clashing of swords, the yells of rage, and thesounds of fierce and desperate struggles going on had ceased. 

Roy's despair was at its height; he knew that the castle was taken, andits defenders killed, hurled into the moat, or captive. 

But the boy's sinking heart gave one leap, for he knew that theflickering fire of defence blazed up in one spot, and that was in theguard-room, where he calculated that there must be twelve or fourteenmen, with Ben Martlet, Farmer Raynes, and the corporal. 

He was nearly right to a man. There were, including their officers, twelve men penned up in the big stone chamber, where they had plenty ofarms and ammunition. The others had their quarters in the five chambersin the towers, and were stationed as sentinels. All these had beenaccounted for, save the wounded men in hospital. 

And as Roy listened to the hurrying tramp of feet, there was gatheringsilence on the ramparts, while around him, in the court-yard, hundredsof men were united and drawn up in line. 

Then, in the darkness beneath the gate-way, Roy heard a commanding voicecall upon the men in the guard-room to surrender. 

"What?" came out clearly in a harsh, snarling voice, which Roy hardlyknew as Ben's. "Do what?"

"Surrender, my man! The place is taken. "

"Yes, by cowardly treachery, Ben, " yelled Roy, desperately. "Don't givein. Fight to the last. "

A man came hurrying up, and the secretary, fierce with passion, stoodbefore him. 

"If this boy dares to speak another word, ram a gag in his mouth. --No, not yet. --Here, bring him up to the gate. "

Roy was half pushed and dragged to the great archway, and, as he reachedit, the clock chimed the quarter after midnight. 

"Now, general, " cried Pawson, "we'll have them out. It's not worthwhile to waste good men's lives to tear a set of mad rats out of theirhole. "

"Well, get them out, " said the same commanding voice, and in the officera short distance from him, Roy recognised the one he had met with theflag of truce. 

"Now, then, if you value your life, " snarled Pawson in the boy's ear, "order those fools to come out before we blow them to pieces with a kegof powder. Do you hear? Come forward and speak!"

Roy felt a fierce desire to spit in the traitor's face, but he masteredhimself and stepped forward. 

"Ah, you've come to your senses, then, " said Pawson. "Lucky for you, mypopinjay. Now, then, tell them to surrender. "

"Why?" said Roy, spitefully. "They don't know what it means. "

"Speak!" cried Pawson; and he pricked the lad with the point of hissword. 

Roy in those terrible moments had to fight hard to be dignified, as hefelt he ought to be, before the enemy; but the desire was strong uponhim, when he felt a slight prick in the side from the keen point of thesword, to turn round and kick his aggressor with all his might. 

Then he spoke. 

"Sergeant Martlet, corporal, Farmer Raynes, all of you, I'm a prisoner, and can't help myself. There are two or three hundred men here. Canyou hear me?"

"Ay, ay, sir; go on, " cried Ben. 

"They bid me tell you to surrender. What do you say?"

"Let 'em come and make us. God save her ladyship and the king!"

"Hurrah!" came rolling back from nearly a dozen lusty throats, and wasfollowed by a shout from Ben. 

"Get back, Master Roy; we're going to fire. "

"Then fire, " cried Roy. "Never mind me now. "

Another cheer followed this; and there was a rattling noise which Royinterpreted, for he knew that the men in the guard-room had seized thepikes from the rack, and that a bristling hedge of steel was beingformed in the door-way. 

Just then the officer in command stepped forward. 

"Silence there!" he cried, in a loud clear voice. "Listen to me, mymen. The castle is taken, and I have four hundred men here. You arethe only defenders left. --Sergeant Martlet, I suppose you are an oldsoldier, and if so, you know this boy's words are madness. Enough menhave perished, and I should be sorry to add your party to those who havemade so brave a defence. Come, you have all done your duty, and yourcase is hopeless; surrender, and you shall suffer no harm. "

"When my captain tells me--not before. "

"Well spoken, and like a brave man, " said the officer; and he turned toRoy. 

"Now, captain, " he said, and there was a touch of sarcasm in his voice, "you don't want those stout fellows shot down, or smothered like rats intheir holes. Tell them to give up their arms and come out. "

"To a set of cowards who attacked us as you did with the help of thattreacherous dog!" cried Roy, passionately. "No!"

"Hurrah!" was shouted from the guard-room door and Farmer Raynes roaredout:

"Well said, Master Roy; we'll beat 'em yet. "

"Take that boy away, " cried the officer; and Roy was dragged to oneside, where he heard the speaker again bid the party surrender; but onlyreceived a shout of defiance in reply. 

A few short, sharp orders followed; and Roy quivered with passion as hesaw from the brightening sparks that a party of men who tramped forwardwere blowing the matches of their firelocks. 

An order followed, and a ragged volley was fired in at the door, whichwas answered by a cheer, and directly after by half-a-dozen shots andsome confusion among the attacking party, for two men staggered back andfell groaning upon the stones. 

The officer stamped his foot. 

"Pikes and swords, " he cried; and in obedience to his orders a littlecolumn of a score of men dashed forward and tried to enter, thrusting intheir pikes; and as many as could get to the door striving desperately, but only to be beaten back, and their discomfiture increased by a fewmore shots. 

The attack was resumed with fresh men again and again, but the defendersfought desperately, and in every case the attacking party were drivenback with several men badly wounded. 

"Block the place up and starve them out, " said Pawson. 

"No, " said the officer sternly. "The work must be done at once. Powder, " he cried to a couple of men near him, and a party marched off. 

After a short delay, during which Roy looked vainly round for thesecretary, the latter appeared again with the men, one of whom bore akeg. To this a piece of fuse was attached ready for lighting, and theofficer walked to Roy's side. 

"Look here, youngster, " he said. "I shall stand at nothing to completethe reduction of this nest. You see that keg of powder. If these mendo not surrender at once, I shall treat them as desperate vermin andblast them out or bury them, with perhaps half the tower upon theirheads. It rests with you whether I shall kill a dozen or so of bravemen or spare them. Which is it to be?"

Roy was silent. 

"Come, " said the officer, "I want to be merciful now. You are SirGranby Royland's son. He is a brave soldier, though mistaken indefending a tyrant. I tell you that when a cause is hopeless he wouldact as I ask you to do. Now you have well proved your courage, and youspoke before in the rage of defeat. Speak now as a brave officer whowould not willingly sacrifice his men. What do you say?"

Roy said nothing, for his heart swelled with emotion, and the wordswould not come. The officer came closer, so that none other could hear. 

"In God's name, boy, " he whispered, "don't force me to do this brutalact; I ask you as the son of a brave soldier. Tell them to surrendernow. "

The way in which these words came to Roy's ear achieved that which nothreats or insult would have done. It was an enemy speaking, butsomething told him that he was a brave soldier too; and without anotherword Roy stepped up to the door-way, from whence a mistaken shot mighthave laid him low. 

The officer grasped this, and shouted loudly--

"Within there! Don't fire!"

It was only just in time, for half-a-dozen muskets were presented. 

The next moment Roy's voice rang out clearly:

"Sergeant Martlet, corporal, Raynes, all of you, we have done our duty, and it is hopeless to fight longer. You are the only men left. Toresist is to give all your lives for nothing. March out and throw downyour arms. "

A groan rose from within, and a figure came to the door-way. 

"Don't say that, Master Roy, " cried Ben, hoarsely. "Couldn't we do itif we held out?"

"No; they will blow the place up. The powder is waiting. I am yourcaptain; I order you to surrender now. "

"Master Roy! Master Roy!" cried the old soldier in a piteous voice; "itwas no doing of mine. I was on the alert. Don't think it was any faultof mine. "

"Fault of yours, Ben?" cried Roy. "No, nor mine neither. "

"But how did they get in, sir?"

"By the secret passage that we could not find. "

"But how? Where can it be?"

"I've been thinking, Ben. I don't know for certain; but it must openinto Master Pawson's room. "

"And he let 'em through?"

"Yes; filling the corridors silently with troops while I slept. "

"The traitor! Then that was the signal, boy. Oh, my lad, my lad, whydidn't I kill him when I thought it must be he? What about repairingthe stone gallows now?"

"I--don't understand you. "

"The lowering of the flag, sir--the lowering of the flag. "

"Yes, " said the officer, who had advanced to them unobserved in thegloom of the archway; "that was the signal, sergeant. You were betrayedfrom within. Step out now with your men, like the brave fellow you are. Give me your hand; and let me tell you that I don't believe I couldhave taken the place without. "

"Am I to surrender, Master Roy?" said the old fellow, bitterly. 

"Yes, Ben; it is all over now. "

The hilt of a sword was thrust out as the old soldier held it to theofficer by the blade. 

"Shake hands with that, sir, " he said, bitterly. "I'm a king's manstill. --Forward!"

This to his brave companions; and as they marched slowly out and gave uptheir arms, a tremendous roar arose from all assembled in thecourt-yard. 

It was no derisive cry, no jeer at the conquered, but a full-throatedcheer of admiration for the brave little party, blood-stained, bandagedroughly, three of them hardly able to keep their feet; and Roy's heartonce more swelled within him in spite of his despair, for he noticed inthe gloom that the officer in command took off his helmet as the menmarched by into the court; and then, as he replaced it, he said quietlyto Roy--

"All this is not necessary, sir. --Quick, one of you; untie thisgentleman's hands. "

For the first time that night, Roy felt giddy and sick with pain. Buthe roused himself directly, for Master Pawson came up, and spoke quicklyin a low voice to the officer, who replied coldly, and with a ring ofcontempt in all as he said, loudly--

"Of course, sir, " he said, "in some things, by the terms of yourbargain, you are master here of the place and the estate. All that theParliament desires is the destruction of the castle as a stronghold; butas to the garrison, that is another thing. We shall hold the place fora time, and while I await further orders the prisoners will be mycharge. "

He turned to give some orders, and the secretary turned to Roy. 

"Yes, " he said, "I am master here now of everything; so go and take offall that tawdry rubbish. You will never make a soldier, and I shalltame down all this bullying haughtiness. You never thought my day wouldcome when I was forced to put up with the insults and jeers of amiserable cub of a boy. But every man has his day. Your party has gonedown at last, and mine is in power. Ah, you may pretend not to hear me, and that you treat everything I say with contempt! Judas, am I, becauseI saved bloodshed by a diplomatic stroke? Well, we shall see. You'llcome cringing to me soon. "

"When my father returns, and, if you have not already been hung for atraitor, he punishes you as you deserve. Shall I cringe to you, then?"

"Your father, " said Pawson, mockingly. "Your proud swashbuckling fatheris dead, --killed as he deserved, with scores of his fighting bullies. You may look to me as your father now. Your mother and I thought itbetter to end this sham defence at once. Hah! does that sting you? Ithought I should manage it at last. Yes, she thought with me. A fine, handsome woman still, Roy, and a clever one, though she did pet andspoil her idiotic cub of a son. But there, I forgive her, and weunderstand each other fully now. Ha, ha! I thought that would touchyou home!"

Roy nearly staggered as he heard these words, and the next moment hewould have flung himself at the traitor's throat; but just then afriendly hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the officer said--

"I have given orders for your wounded men to be seen by our doctor. Meanwhile, you had better come with me. "

He passed his arm through Roy's, and turned his back on Pawson, marchingthe lad towards the private apartments of the castle; while the traitorstood gazing after them, stung as deeply as his victim now in turn. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

"AND ALL THROUGH MY NEGLECT. "

Seeing how completely prostrated his companion seemed to be, the officerturned to him as they reached the entrance to the private apartments andsaid, quietly--

"Perhaps you will show me a room where I and my officers can have somerefreshment. We are starving. You can tell your servants that theyhave nothing to fear. I will see that they are not insulted; and thenperhaps you would prefer to be alone. "

"Thank you, " faltered Roy, speaking in a strange, dazed way, as if hewere in a dream. 

"Come, be a man, sir, " said the officer, rather sternly. "It is thefortune of war. A young soldier must not lose heart because he finds heis a prisoner. There, meet me at breakfast-time, and you and I willhave a chat together. But listen first before you go: do not attemptany foolish, reckless pranks in the way of trying to escape. I tell youhonestly, the castle will be so guarded and watched that it would bemadness. --By the way, where are Lady Royland's apartments?"

Roy pointed to a door. 

"Tell her when you see her that there is nothing to fear. But MasterPawson told me that he would place guards over her. "

Roy drew a deep breath but said nothing, merely contented himself withpointing out the dining-room and library to his conqueror. Then hestopped at his own door. 

"Your room? Very well; take my advice, and have a few hours' sleep, "said the officer, opening the door, entering, and looking round by thelight of the dim lamp. "Where does that big window open upon?"

"The garden, --the court-yard. "

"And that narrow slit?"

"Upon the moat. "

"Hah! Good-night to you. "

He strode out, and Roy stood where he had been left, with his headthrobbing as if it would burst from the terrible thoughts that invadedit. 

Directly after he heard the tramp of heavy feet, a few words deliveredin an imperious tone, and there was the heavy _rap, rap_ of a couple ofmusket butts upon the oaken floor, telling him that guards had beenplaced at his door. His despair now knew no bounds, for he haddetermined to go straight to his mother's chamber, and ask her if MasterPawson's words were true. Now all communication was cut off, for he wasa prisoner. 

But his agony had reached its greatest height, and in a short time hegrew calmer; for light came into his darkened brain, and he told himselfhe was glad that he had not been able to go and insult his mother byasking such a question. 

"It is horrible!" he said to himself; "and I must have been mad to thinksuch a thing possible. Liar! traitor! wretch! How could I think therewas the faintest truth in anything he said!"

Utterly exhausted, he took off his armour and laid it and his sword-beltand empty scabbard aside. 

"Done with now, " he said, bitterly; and he sank upon the couch to tryand think whether he was to blame for not searching more for the passageleading out beyond the moat. 

"But I did try, and try hard, " he muttered. "No; I could not foreseethat the man chosen by my father would betray us. It was my duty totrust him. It was not my fault. "

Through the remainder of that night he sat there thinking. Nowlistening to the tramp of the sentries at his door and overhead upon theramparts, starting from time to time as he heard them challenge, and theword passed on, till it died away; now thinking bitterly of the easewith which they had been beaten, and of the men who must have fallen intheir defence. Then, from utter exhaustion, his eyes would close, andconsciousness leave him for a few minutes as he sank back. 

But he never thoroughly went to sleep, the act of sinking back makinghim start into wakefulness, bitter and angry with himself for theselapses, and in every case springing up to pace the room. 

"Poor mother! What she must have suffered through it all, and Iscarcely gave her a thought. That wretch must have locked her in herroom or she would certainly have been seeing to the wounded. "

The clock chimed and struck, and chimed and struck again, with Roycounting the long lingering hours as they went on, for he was longingfor the day to appear, hopeless as the dawn would be. But he wanted tosee the general, to beg that he might go to Lady Royland; and the timewhen he would meet him seemed as if it would never come. 

But at last the faint light began to dawn through the window, and, hotand feverish, he threw it open, to look out across the court and overthe eastern ramparts at the coming signs of day, which grew brighter andclearer till the sentinels upon the terrace-like place, and thecrenellations, stood out of a purply black plainly marked against thesky. 

There were at least twenty men marching to and fro where at the most hehad had two; and he groaned in spirit for a time as he went over againthe occurrences of the past night. But far on high the sky began to bedappled with orange and golden clouds, which increased in brightnesstill the whole east was one glory of light, bringing with it hope; whilethe soft cool breeze he drank in gave him fresh courage and the strengthto act the part he had to play, --that of one too proud to be cast down, so that his men should speak of him ever after as his father's son. 

"Better than being in one of the dungeons, " he thought, as he indulgedin a good bathe, and dressed himself simply; after which he carefullyhung up his armour, with the helmet above, and longed for his sword thatit might occupy its old place. 

"Better be lying rusting in the moat than resting in such hands as his, "he muttered. 

After spending some time at the window gazing across the court at thewindows of the long chamber used for the hospital, and at the opening tothe stabling down below, he fell to wondering as to how the poor fellowswho were wounded had passed the night; and this brought a shudder, andhe ran across to the little slit in the thickness of the wall to openthe tiny casement, and look down at the moat, peering to right and leftwith starting eyes in expectant dread of seeing some ghastly sign of thehorrible struggle that had taken place upon the tower platforms. Butthe lilies floated peacefully enough, and displayed their great whitecups, and the fish played about beneath the leaves, making rings in thesmooth patches where they rose--rings which spread and spread till theyslightly swayed the reeds and rushes at the edge. 

But he saw no dead white face gazing up at the sunlit heavens, and, search the waters as he would, there was not a sign to send a shudderthrough his frame. 

All at once there was the tramp of feet overhead, and he went back tothe other window, where he stood and looked across, and on the easternrampart saw the guard relieved, the sun burnishing the men's steel caps;and soon after, as he watched, wondering what the day would bring forth, he heard the sentries at his door relieved in turn. 

This ended, the echoes of the place were awakened by the blast of atrumpet, and the boy stood looking in wonder at the strength of theforce drawn up in the court, and saw fully half of them march towardsthe great gate-way. Then he heard the drawbridge lowered, and theheavy, hollow tramp of the men as they passed across. Soon after, theneighing of horses reached his ears, and then came the beating of hoofson the bridge, raising echoes from the walls at the other end, as atroop rode in and were drawn up on either side--sturdy-looking fellows, who sat their horses well, as Roy was fain to grant in spite of BenMartlet's disparaging remarks. 

He was still watching the troopers and their horses, when he heard amovement outside his door as if the sentries had presented arms; anddirectly after the general strode into the room, with his stern, thoughtful countenance lighting up as he encountered Roy's frank, boldeyes. 

"Good-morning, " he said, holding out his hand. 

Roy flushed, but made no movement to take it. 

"As one gentleman to another, Roy Royland, " he said, smiling. "We canbe enemies again when we have fighting to do. Come, we can be friendsnow. "

Roy felt drawn towards him, and he slowly raised his hand, which wasfirmly gripped and held for a few moments. 

"Ah, that's better!--Well, prisoner, how have you slept?"

"I? Not at all, " said Roy, bitterly. 

"That is a pity, too, " said the general. "You ought to have slept. Youhad no guilty conscience to keep you awake. You only had the knowledgeof duty done. "

"And what about the poor fellows who fell fighting for us? Would notthat keep me awake?"

"Ah, yes!" said the general, laying his hand on Roy's shoulder. "Thatis right. Well, as far as I have ascertained, not a man failed to crossthe moat after his plunge. There are some ugly wounds, no doubt, butthe doctor tells me that my men have suffered worse than yours, and hedoes not anticipate that any of your brave fellows will even have tostay in bed. "

"That is good news, " said Roy in spite of himself, for he meant to bevery stern and distant. 

"Better than was given me, my boy. There, come along; breakfast iswaiting. "

Roy shrank back. 

"I would rather have some bread and water here, " he said. 

"Indeed! But I'm not going to feed my prisoner upon bread and water. Ifind you have plenty here, and that plenty you shall share. Ah! I seeyou do not want to meet our friend Pawson. "

Roy started violently, and changed colour. 

"He will not be with us, sir. Master Pawson prefers to stay in his ownchamber, and I am quite willing. "

"My mother?" asked Roy, in agony. 

"Keeps to her room, boy. Her women are with her, and she knows that youare safe. "

"She knows that?" cried Roy. 

"Well, yes. I am what you would call a brutal rebel and traitor to myking; but I have a wife who knows what anxiety is about her husband andher son during this cruel war, and I took the liberty of asking aninterview last night, before going to rest, and telling Lady Royland howyou had behaved. "

"Thank you, General--General--"

"Hepburn, my lad, " and he caught the hand the boy held out. "And let metell you that you have a mother of whom any boy should be proud--yourfather a wife such as few men own. She passed the whole night tendingthe wounded and winning our doctor's esteem. But come; I am hungry, andso must you be too. "

Roy followed him without a word, feeling that, prisoner though he was, the salutes of the sentinels they passed were full of respect; and whenhe reached the dining-room, in which about twenty officers were gatheredwaiting their general's presence to begin, they rose like one man, andpressed forward to shake him by the hand, making the boy flush withmingled shame and pride, for had he taken the castle instead of losingit, his reception could not have been more warm. 

"Come, " said the general, after their hasty meal was at an end, "you aremy prisoner, but I will not ask you to make promises not to escape. Youcan go about the castle; the men will let you pass anywhere within theportcullis. You will like to visit your wounded men, of course. "

"And the other prisoners?" said Roy. 

"I am going to parade them now; so come with me and see. "

The strong force pretty well filled the square court-yard, but left avacant place in the middle into which the general strode; and thengiving his orders, there was a pause, during which Roy's gaze turnedinvoluntarily towards the little turret at the corner of the gate tower;but no flag fluttered there, and he felt a pang as he gazed at the tallpole with the halyard against it swayed by the wind. 

But he had something else to take his attention directly as he glancedround the walls. 

There, standing at the window of the north-west tower, was the upperpart of the figure of Master Pawson, framed as it were in stone; and Royturned away in disgust as a hearty cheer arose, and he saw it was towelcome the brave fellows, who marched from their prison of the night, bandaged, bruised, and sadly damaged in their personal appearance, butwith heads erect and keeping step with Ben Martlet, who looked as if hewere flushed with victory instead of labouring under defeat. 

The men were drawn up in line in the middle of the narrow square, and asthey caught sight of Roy just by the general, their military mannersgave place to a touch of human nature, for Ben nodded eagerly to hisyoung captain, and wounded and sound all waved steel cap or hand, FarmerRaynes the latter in a left-handed way, for his right was in a sling;and then all burst into a cheer. 

Just then, behind the prisoners and over the heads of the line ofmounted men, whose horses' hoofs were trampling the flower-beds, Roycaught sight of something white in the open hospital window, and hisheart leaped as his mother waved her handkerchief to him, wafting awaywith it the last trace of the vile mist Master Pawson had raised aroundher by his assertion. 

Roy eagerly responded to the salutation, and then had his attentiontaken up by the action of the general, who walked along the little lineof prisoners, who, to a man, returned his stern scrutiny with a bold, defiant stare. Then turning to Ben, he said--

"How many of these are disciplined soldiers, sergeant?"

"All of 'em far as we could make 'em, " replied Ben. 

"Yes. But how many were in the Royalist army?"

"Three and me, " said Ben. 

"You three men, two paces to the rear, " said the general, sharply; andthe three troopers stepped back. 

"Nay, nay!" shouted Farmer Raynes, angrily. "Share and share alike. Wewere all in it; and I say if you shoot them, shoot us, too;" and hestepped back, the others after a momentary hesitation following hisexample. 

There was a murmur in the Parliamentary ranks as the men witnessed thislittle bit of heroism, and the general shouted his next order in a veryperemptory way. 

"Attention!" he cried, addressing the prisoners. "I do not shoot bravemen in cold blood, only cowards and traitors. "

"Then have that hound down from yon window, general, " cried Ben, excitedly, pointing to where Master Pawson stood looking on, "and shoothim. Nay, it's insulting good soldiers to ask 'em to do it, sir. We'vean old stone gallows here on the ramparts; have him hung. "

A yell of execration burst from the prisoners, and the ex-secretarydisappeared. 

"Silence!" cried the general. "Attend there. You, sergeant, and youthree men, will you take service under the Parliament, and keep yourranks with the promise of early promotion?"

"Shall I speak for you, comrades?" asked Ben. 

"Yes, " they cried together. 

"Then not a man of us, sir. We're Sir Granby Royland's old troopers, and we say, God save the king!"

The general made a sign, and the four men were surrounded and marched toone side in the direction from whence they had been brought; while atanother sign, the rest of the prisoners, with Farmer Raynes at theirhead, closed up in line. 

"What are you?" said the general, sternly, beginning with the sturdytenant of the estate. 

"Farmer. "

"And you?"

"Butler. "

And so all along the line, each man making his response in anindependent, defiant tone. 

"Will you come and serve the Parliament?" said the general. "I wantstrong, brave men. "

He looked at Farmer Raynes as he spoke, but glanced afterwards at everyman in turn. 

"Then you must go and look for 'em somewhere else, squire. You won'tfind a man on Sir Granby Royland's estate. "

A murmur from the rank showed how the rest acquiesced. 

The general made a sign, and a squad of musketeers surrounded the men. 

"Go back to your homes, my lads; but remember, if you are found in armsagain, you will be shot. Escort these men beyond the moat. "

Farmer Raynes turned sharply to Roy. 

"Can't help ourselves, captain, " he cried, loudly; "but shot or no, we're ready when you want us again. --Good-bye, Martlet, old comrade. --Take care of him, general, for he's as fine a soldier as ever stepped. --Now, my lads, three cheers for my lady, and then march. "

The prisoners burst into a hearty roar, and were then escorted throughthe gate-way and over the drawbridge beyond the strong picket stationedby the earthwork. Here they cheered loudly again. 

"Hallo! who are you?" said the general, sharply, as his eyes lit uponthe flowing white hair and beard of the tottering old gate-keeper, who, fully armed, and with his head erect, took a few paces forward fromwhere he had stood before unobserved. 

"Sir Granby's oldest follower, and his father's afore him, " said Jenk, in his feeble, quavering voice. "Do I go with Ben Martlet and t'othersto the prison?"

"No, " said the general, shortly; "stop and attend to your young master, and mind you don't get playing tricks with that sword. "

"But I'm a soldier as has sarved--"

"Silence, Jenk!" said Roy, hastily stepping to his side. "You must notdesert me; I'm quite alone now. "

"Oh, very well, if it's like that, sir, I'll stop with you, " quaveredthe old man; and he stepped stiffly behind his young master, unconsciousof the smiles and whispers which arose. 

Half an hour later the new garrison had settled down to its quarters;the three heavy guns from the battery had been brought in and planted inthe gate-way to sweep the approach, and Royland Castle was transformedinto a Parliamentary stronghold, protected by whose guns a little campwas formed just beyond the moat, and occupied by the cavalry of theforce. 

Ben and his three comrades were placed in a room opening on thecourt-yard, with leave to go anywhere about the quadrangle, with asentry placed over them--hardly a necessity, for they were all sufferingfrom wounds, of which, however, they made light when Roy went to them, setting him a capital example of keeping a good heart. 

Then, finding himself fully at liberty to go where he pleased, thesentries saluting and letting him pass, Roy made for the hospital-room, longing for and yet dreading the interview, fearing as he did to witnesshis mother's despair. 

To his surprise, as she eagerly caught his hands in hers, her face waswreathed in smiles, and she strove to comfort him. 

"Defeated, Roy; but even your enemies honour you for your bravedefence, " she whispered. 

"Ours, mother; not mine only, " he said. And then, feeling that he couldnot even allude to the traitor who carefully kept out of his way, hewent round to the men's beds with Lady Royland. The place was prettyfull now, but in spite of serious wounds the room looked cheerful, andthe men of both sides received them with smiles. There was only one sadface, and that was Sam Donny's, for he had taken to his bed again, "fromweakness, " Lady Royland said. 

She passed on to the next bed, and Roy sat down by the poor fellow for afew minutes, to take his hand, gazing the while in his drawn andwrinkled face. 

"I'm very, very sorry, Sam, " Roy said, gently. "Come, you must try andget right again. "

"Yes, captain, " said the man loudly, with a groan. "I was to have beenout in a few days if I hadn't turned worse. This doctor don'tunderstand my case. "

"What is it?" said Roy, anxiously. "Has your wound broken out again?"

"Nothing at all, " whispered the man, with his eyes twinkling. "I'mnearly as right as you are, sir; and when you want me, here I am. "

"What?"

"Hush! Don't look like that. I'm gammoning my lady, so as they shan'tsend me away like t'others. You've got a strong man here when you andBen Martlet wants to make a fight for it again. Oh-h-h!"

He groaned as he saw one of the wounded Parliamentarians looking intheir direction, and Roy rose hurriedly and joined his mother, feelingas if he were playing false. 

They finished their round of the place, and then went out into thecorridor to talk. 

"Don't speak about our disaster, Roy, " said Lady Royland, clinging tohis hand. "We must bear it, and your father cannot blame us for ourreverse. There, I shall be busy here, and we must be thankful that wehave fallen into the hands of General Hepburn, whose kindness andconsideration are far more than we could have expected. He has only onefault--he is an enemy. "

"Then you don't blame me for feeling as if I half liked him, mother?"

"We can like the man, Roy, without liking his principles, " said LadyRoyland, calmly. "Come and see me as often as you can; I shallgenerally be here, but I suppose you can come to my room sometimes. "

"I suppose so, " said Roy. "I believe I am to keep mine. "

"Yes; General Hepburn told me you should; but, Roy, you will becareful. "

"What--about trying to retake the place?"

"It is impossible, my boy. But I did not mean that; I meant aboutencountering that man--no, he is not a man, " she cried, with an angryflash of her eyes. "He has taken possession of the library and thestate-room, for he made a bargain with our enemies that his reward fordelivering up the place was to be that he should retain the estateafterwards. "

"And they wanted the stronghold put down, and agreed, " said Roy. "Yes;I pretty well know all, mother. Of course you have heard how he got themen in? All through my neglect?"

"Yes, Roy! No, Roy, there was no neglect! We could not know of thatcommunication. "

"I did; but I could not find it. Oh, how that villain did cheat--"

Roy got no further, for his mother's hand was laid upon his lips, andthey parted directly after, her last words being:

"Don't think of it, Roy; our position is a happy one compared to his. Even the enemy look upon him with disgust. "

"And I was ready for a few moments to believe all he said, " thought Roy, as he returned to the court-yard with a strong desire now in his mind, one which grew minute by minute. He only waited for a favourableopportunity to make his request. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

OLD JENK'S MIND IS TROUBLED. 

Two days passed before Roy was able to ask what he wanted. For duringthis interval General Hepburn seemed too much immersed in affairs tomore than give him a friendly nod when they met at meals. Men werebeing constantly sent out with despatches, and others came. Then thecavalry regiment was always going and coming, "sweeping the country, "Ben said, when Roy sat talking by the old soldier, who was more injuredthan he would own to, and spent most of his time on a stone seat in thesun. 

"Tchah! not I, sir, " he said, peevishly. "My lady's got her hands fullenough. We chaps know how to manage with clean water, fresh bit o'linen, and keep quiet in the sunshine, and natur' does all the rest. We're getting on right enough. --Eh, comrades?"

"Couldn't be better, " said the corporal. "Soon be ready to begin again, Master Roy, when you see your chance. "

Words like these, and a hint or two again and again from the sick men inthe hospital, could not fail to set ideas growing in Roy's brain; buteverything was confused and misty yet, and the time went on. Poor oldJenk crept up to the four men, and always had the sunniest spot in thecorner given to him, and here he would settle himself, nursing his swordin his lap, and go fast asleep. 

"Yes, sir, " said Ben, one day; "you see he's so very old. I believeafter all he's a hundred, and it's a honour to him, I say. Mean to liveto a hundred myself if I can. But see how he sleeps; I don't believehe's quite awake more than three hours a day, and I dessay he'll justcome to an end some time in his sleep. "

"Poor old fellow, " said Roy, softly, as he laid his fresh young handupon the gnarled and withered fingers that rested upon the sword acrossthe old man's knees. 

"Ah, he has been a good soldier in his day, Master Roy, but it's rum howhe can't see that he's not a fine strong man now! Why, you might reallynigh blow him over, and all the time he keeps on talking about what he'sgoing to do to Master Fiddler as soon as he gets a chance. "

"What! he doesn't threaten to attack him?"

"Don't threaten, sir?" said Ben with a chuckle. "But he just do; andthen he's going to retake the castle singlehanded. "

"But he mustn't have a sword; he'll be making some trouble. "

"Well, if he makes an end to Master Pawson, sir, I think he may just liedown and die at once like a regular hero, for he'll have done the finestthing he ever did in his life. "

"Oh, nonsense, Ben! You and all of you must mind the poor old fellowdoes nothing foolish. "

Ben growled and shook his head, for his ideas were not at all inaccordance with his young master's. 

"You need not look so sour, Ben, " Roy hastened to say. "Master Pawsonwill get his deserts some day. "

"Yes, sir, " said the old soldier, sourly; "his sort generally seem to inthis precious world. His deserts seem to be your father's fine oldproperty to wallow in, and get fatter and rounder-faced every day. He'dbetter not go and sit and read big books belonging to your father atopof either of the towers when I'm nigh, sir, for I'll pitch him off assure as he plays the fiddle. "

The men laughed. 

"Oh, you may grin, " said Ben, "but I mean it. You know, I s'pose, Master Roy, as they've emptied his room and carried everything into yourfather's library, --fiddle and all. Oh, how I should like to smash thatcaterwaulin' thing!"

"I did not know it, Ben, " said Roy, thoughtfully. "I keep away fromthere as much as I can. But I say, Ben, " he continued, smiling, as helaid his hand upon the old soldier's knee, "your wound is hurting you agood deal to-day. "

"Awful, my lad, awful; it's getting better, but it feels as if a hungrydog was gnawing the bone. "

"I thought so. "

"Why, how did you know, my lad?" said Ben, innocently. 

"Only by your manner. But look here, " continued Roy, "I want very badlyto see that place where the enemy got in. "

"Ay, and so do I, sir. I've lain awake at nights with that placeworrying me more than my big chop as ought to ha' been well by thistime. I don't understand it yet, only I expect as he let 'em in. So hefilled all the long underground passages with the men, and got 'em thereready to go up the towers when the signal was given? I daresay he giveit with his miserable squeak of a pipe. "

"I'm going to ask General Hepburn to let me see the place. "

"And he won't let you, of course. You'll have to give the sentriessomething, and perhaps they may. "

"No; I'm not going to do anything underhanded, Ben. I shall ask thegeneral himself. "

"Oh come, I like that, sir, " said Ben, derisively. "He didn't doanything underhanded along with Fiddler Pawson, did he?"

"Wound shooting, Ben?" said Roy, drily. 

The old soldier chuckled, and the boy rose and went straight to thegeneral's snug quarters in a little place adjoining the dining-room toprefer his request. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

THE WAY IN AND THE WAY OUT. 

The sentries challenged Roy as he went along the corridors, and it madehis heart ache for this to take place in his own old home; but as he waspassed on directly, he drew himself up, went to the door, knocked, andthe general's deep hard voice cried, "Come in. "

General Hepburn was seated at a table writing, but he threw down his penas he saw who it was, and smiled. 

"What can I do for you, my restless prisoner?" he said. 

"I want you to give me a pass for the sentries, so that I can go andexamine the passage through which you brought your men that night, sir. "

"Why? What for?"

"Out of curiosity. Isn't it natural, sir, that after being here all mylife, and then tricked like that, I should want to know how it wasdone?"

"Yes, " said the general, abruptly; and he took up his pen and wrotesomething upon a piece of paper, swept some pounce over it, shook it, and gave it to his petitioner. "You can go and see it. "

"And take Sergeant Martlet with me, sir? He was my lieutenant andadviser. "

The general snatched the paper back, wrote in a line, and once morehanded it. 

"Yes, " he said; "but I must be strict, boy. You will have a sergeant'sguard with you all the time. "

"Of course, " said Roy; "but I am not going to try and escape to-day. "

"No, " said the general, smiling, and taking up his pen again; "you arenot going to try and escape to-day. "

As Roy went away, the guard was being changed, and the place rang withthe tramp of men, the officer on duty visiting the different posts andexamining everything in the keenest way. 

"Ah, they're doing it right enough, Master Roy, " said Ben; and the ladstarted, for he had not heard the old sergeant's approach. "Taking alesson?"

"I was watching them, Ben. "

"Ah, and if they warn't enemies, and taken our place, I'd say thegeneral was a thorough good soldier, and knew what he was about. "

"You do think that, then?" said Roy, who was glad to hear his own ideasendorsed. 

"Course I do, sir. I growled and grumbled because I'm sore; but it doesone's heart good to see the fine discipline, and the way in which theywork our guns. He didn't seem very clever at managing his horse, but Is'pose he was right, for sorry am I to say it, he's made the castletwice as strong as it was, and only by having his men in such order. "

"Yes; everything goes like clockwork, Ben, " said Roy, sadly. 

"Better, sir; clocks get out of order; garrison like this don't. A manor two may go wrong, but there is always more to take their places. Wedid our best, and was very proud of it, sir; but it's one thing to havethree trained soldiers for your garrison and to make it stronger out ofsuch men as you can get together, and another thing to march in as manyas you can make room for, and all well-drilled. There, it's of no useto grumble, sir; we did wonders. --So the general won't let you go andsee the fox's hole?"

"Yes, he will, Ben. I have the pass here to present to the officers onduty. "

"Why didn't you say so before?" cried Ben, sharply. "Come along, then, sir. I wouldn't go and say anything to them yonder, because they mightfeel a bit jealous. "

Roy nodded, and followed by the old sergeant he walked straight to theguard-room, presented his paper, feeling all the while how strange itwas to have to ask permission in his own old home. But he had no timefor thought. The officer promptly called out a sergeant, and selectedfour men, and with them for guard, Roy and Ben led across the court tothe entrance of the north-west tower. 

Roy felt eager and yet depressed as they passed in, the sergeant leadingand going up the spiral stairs to Master Pawson's old room, which waspartly dismantled now, and the furniture left just sufficient to provideseats and a table for a dozen men who used it as a second guard-room. 

"You don't know the way out and in by this passage, then, sir?" thesergeant said. 

"No, " replied Roy, who was examining the walls. "I have no idea whereit is. Surely it can't be here?"

"Take a look round, sir; perhaps you'll make it out. "

Roy did look round--an easy thing to do in a round chamber--but thedoor, the one large cupboard, the locker in the window, and a broadoaken panel over the mantelpiece were examined and in vain. The lasttook his attention the most, looking as if it might be a low door-way, and sounding hollow; but he could make nothing of it, and he fell toexamining the wainscot in other parts and the floor boards. 

"Better give it up, sir, " said the sergeant, smiling. "I don't supposeany one would find it out unless it was by accident. Shall I show younow?"

"No, " said Roy, who was on his mettle; and he examined the whole placeagain, beginning with the locker in the window, opening an oakenbox-like contrivance in which lay a few of the soldiers' cloaks forwhich there was no room on the nails and hooks lately driven into thewall. 

But after a quarter of an hour's keen search, Roy gave it up. 

"I am wasting time, " he said. 

"Yes, sir, " said the sergeant; "but, as children say at play, you wereburning more than once. "

Roy felt disposed to renew his quest, but he refrained, and the sergeantwent to the casement window, and as Roy watched him, opened it till itstood at a certain angle, which allowed him to thrust down a pin andsecure it--a simple enough thing to do, and apparently to keep the windfrom blowing it to and fro. 

"That unlocks the trap-door, sir, " said the man. "If you open it moreor less, it doesn't act. Look here. "

He opened the lid of the locker, and turned a catch over it to keep itfrom shutting down again, then threw out the cloaks. 

"Now pull up that end, sir. "

Roy took hold of the panelled oaken side of the locker on his left, andto his astonishment the end of the coffer-like affair glided easily up, bringing with it one end of the oaken bottom; while the other end, turning upon a pivot on the middle, went down, laying open a squareshaft going at a slope apparently into the thickness of the wall. 

Roy uttered an ejaculation of wonder, while the sergeant struck a light, lit a lantern, got feet first into the locker, and let himself slide;and they saw him descend a dozen feet at an easy slope, stand upright, and hold the light for them to follow and stand by him in a narrowpassage with an arched roof. 

"Easy enough, when you know how, " said the man. 

"Ay, easy enough, when you know how, " growled Ben, while Roy examined ashort, stout ladder hanging from a couple of hooks by the archedceiling. 

"For going back?" he said. 

"Yes, sir, " was the reply, as the sergeant moved forward a few steps toallow his men to follow, which they did as if quite accustomed to thetask. 

The narrow passage ended at the top of a spiral staircase just wideenough to allow a man to pass along, and down this he went with a light, the others following, till they had descended to a great depth. 

"Hundred steps, " growled Ben, as they stood now in a square crypt-likechamber, with a pointed archway in the centre of the wall at one end. 

"There you are, sir, " said the sergeant, holding up the lantern, "cutright through the stone. It's as dry as tinder, though it does gostraight under the moat. Isn't it strange that you didn't know ofthis?"

"Strange!" cried Ben, taking the answer out of his young master's lips;"why, I didn't know anything about it myself. I mean, where it was. "

Roy was silent, for he was thinking of how easily the passage could havebeen blocked, or a few men have held it against a host. 

"Want to go any farther, sir?" asked the sergeant. 

"Farther? Yes!" cried Roy, excitedly. "I want to go right to the end. "

"Long way, sir, and it's all alike. It comes out in the old ruinedplace at the top of that little hill. "

"Yes, I suppose so, " said Roy. "Lead on, please. "

The sergeant went forward with the light, and Roy followed, whisperingto his companion as they went along. 

"Oh, Ben, if we had only found it out!"

"Ay, sir. If we had only found it out; but it wanted a man like MasterPawson. "

"Why, Ben, " cried Roy, who had a flash of inspiration; "he must havefound out about it in one of those old books from the library, one ofthose which tell about the building of the castle. "

"Why, o' course, sir!" growled Ben; "and you, with all those books tolook at when you liked, and not find it out yourself. "

"And I know the very book, " cried Roy, "and have looked at the picturesin it scores of times. But, I remember now, I have not seen it sincethat wretch has been here. "

They had to increase their pace, for the sergeant was striding alongover the fairly level floor, which had doubtless been lately cleared, for the lantern showed where portions of the arched roof had shaled off, though much of it was in almost the same condition as when it waslaboriously chipped away with the mason's hammers, whose marks wereplainly enough to be seen. 

"Seen one bit, we've seen all, Master Roy, " said Ben at last in adisgusted tone; "but it don't want a trained soldier to take a castle ifhe's got a way in, made ready for him like this. "

But they proceeded, and went right to the end, which was carefullymasked in the ruin of the old chapel. But some time before they reachedthe other opening they were challenged, and Roy felt no surprise onfinding a strong body of horse bivouacked in the ancient ruin. 

On the way back to the castle Roy gleaned a few facts from the sergeant, which only, however, endorsed those already gathered, --to wit, that theex-secretary had been holding communications with the enemy for sometime before they came to terms, visiting the camp again and again atnight, and eluding the vigilance of those who tried to follow him, dodging, as he always did, and then doubling back and reaching the ruinswhere they were not watched. It was not until General Hepburn hadrealised that it would be a very long and tedious task to reduce thecastle, and only to be achieved at the cost of much bloodshed, that he, after communication with headquarters, came to Pawson's terms, and thenthe result was immediate. 

Roy's first step on returning was to seek Lady Royland and tell her ofhis visit, at the same time asking her opinion about the book, which sheremembered at once. 

"Yes, " she said, at last; "if ever we find that book again, we shallread the story of our ruin there. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

ROY HEARS THE SIMPLE TRUTH. 

A month had passed, and the prisoners knew nothing of what was going onin the outer world. Now and then rumours floated to Roy's ears throughdifferent channels of how matters progressed in the country, but theywere rumours which, Lady Royland pointed out, could not be trustworthy. One day it would be that the king was carrying everything before him, and that the rebellion was nearly stamped out; while on another theyheard that the Parliamentarians held the whole country, and the kinghardly had a follower left. 

The moat embraced the world of the prisoners during their captivity, andthey knew what went on within its enclosure, --little else. 

"We must wait patiently, Roy, " said Lady Royland. 

"Yes, mother, " he replied, with a smile full of annoyance; "we mustwait, but I can't do it patiently. In the old days I could fish andclimb after the jackdaws' nests, and make excursions, and read; but Ican't do any of those things now. I only seem able to think aboutescaping. "

"Well, my boy, " said Lady Royland, sadly--one day when Roy said this forperhaps the twentieth time, and she looked at him with a painedexpression in her eyes--"I know how hard it must be for a young bird tobeat its wings, shut in by a cage. Escape, then. You may be able tofind your father. But at the least you will be free. "

Roy thought of Pawson's words about his father's death, but mentallydeclared it was a lie like the other assertion, and burst out into amocking laugh, which made his mother look at him wonderingly. 

"Escape?" he said. "I say, mother, do you know I've often thought howeasily I could get on to the ramparts, slide down a rope, and swimacross the moat. "

"Yes, I am sure you could, " she said, eagerly, but with the pain in hereyes growing plainer. "Well, it would be bitter for me to part withyou, but go. "

Roy laughed outright once more. 

"Why, you dear, darling, silly old mother!" he cried, flinging his armsabout her neck, and kissing her; "just as if I could go away and leaveyou here. I should look a nice young cavalier when I met my father--shouldn't I?--and he asked where I had left you. No! I'm onlygrumbling like old Ben does about being shut up, though General Hepburndoes treat us very well. "

"Yes; no gentleman could behave to us with more consideration, my boy. "

"But why doesn't father or the king, or some one of his officers, comeand attack this place? All this time gone by, and the general hereseems to hold the country for miles round, and all the gentry arefriendly to him. Do you know Parson Meldew was here yesterday to seethe beast?"

Lady Royland looked at him wonderingly. 

"Well, I can't help calling him that. He is a beast, and he lives in aden. No one seems to associate with him. I believe he hates thegeneral, but the general told me one day that Pawson was not good enoughto hate. "

"Don't mention his name in my presence, " said Lady Royland, sternly. 

The conversation came to an end, Roy walking off into the court-yard, agarden no longer, to see a squadron of horse drawn up before startingupon some reconnoissance. 

They rode out to the sound of the trumpet; and as the horses' hoofsechoed on the lowered bridge, and mingled with their snorting and thejingle of the accoutrements, Roy felt his heart burn within him, and thelonging to be free grew almost unbearable. 

As the drawbridge was raised again, a grunt behind him made the boy turnsharply, to face the old sergeant, who had come up, his step unheardamidst the tramping of the horses as they passed over the planks. 

"Sets one longing, sir, don't it?" said Ben. 

"Ay, it does, " said Roy, sighing. 

"'Tick'larly at your age, sir. Why, I almost wish my wound hadn't gotwell. It did give me something to think about. If I go on with nothingto do much longer, they'll have to dig a hole to bury me. "

"Nonsense, Ben!"

"No, it aren't nonsense, sir; for you see I always was a busy man. Nowthere's no armour to polish, no guns to look after, no powder-magazineto work at, and no one to drill. I'm just getting rusty, right throughto the heart. "

"But you've been weak and ill, Ben, and a rest does you good. "

"No, it don't, sir. Does t'others good; and thanks to my lady and thedoctor, every one's got well 'cept Sam Donny, whose leg is reg'lartwissen up like, and as if it would never come straight again. Seemsqueer, too, as a wound uppards should affect him so downards. "

"Oh, he'll be right when the war's over. "

"When it's over, sir? But when will that be?"

"Ah! I don't know, Ben, " said Roy, with a sigh. "But there, don'tfret. Take it easy for a bit, and grow strong. "

"I am strong, sir. Strong as a horse--but do I look like the sort ofman to take it easy? I've sat on that bench in the sun warming oneside, and turning and warming the other side, till I've felt as if Ihated myself. It aren't as if I could read. Begin to wish I could now, not as I ever knowed much good come out o' books. "

"Why, Ben!"

"Ah, you may say `Why, Ben!' sir, but look what books'll bring a man to!Look at that there Fiddler Pawson. Shuts hisself up even now, doingnothing but read, and only comes out o' nights, and goes prowling roundthe ramparts like an old black tom-cat. You can often hear the sentrieschallenging him. "

"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Roy. "I've heard them challenge some onewhen I've been watching the stars. "

"What business have you watching the stars o' nights, sir?" said Ben, sourly. 

"Can't always sleep, Ben, for thinking. "

"Humph!" growled the man. "Howsoever, sir, I do live in hopes. "

"Yes; so do I. "

"Ah, not same as me, sir. I lives in hopes o' one o' the sentriesmaking a mistake some night. "

"And shooting him, Ben?"

The sergeant winked, nodded, and rubbed his hands. 

"Only wish they'd put me on duty, sir. "

"You wouldn't shoot him, Ben, if they did. "

"Then I'd save the powder and bullet, sir, and pitch him into the moat, same as the enemy did a lot of our chaps--all them as didn't jump--butthey all got safe over, I suppose. "

Roy began to walk up and down with his companion, passing the otherprisoners from time to time on the wide bench in the corner; while oldJenk sat on the mossy stone steps at the foot of the sun-dial in themiddle of the court, one arm nursing his sword upon his knees, the otherembracing the lichen-covered pedestal against which he rested his head--no bad representation of old Father Time taking a nap. 

"Wish I could sleep like he does, " growled Ben. "Nothing to do. Won'tlet me help any way. Tried to have a go in the armoury, but thatsergeant as went through the rat's hole with us grinned at me and turnedme out. Pah! I hate him! He's reg'lar took my job out o' my hands. "

"Patience, patience, Ben, " said Roy. 

"Don't believe there's any o' that stuff left in the castle, Master Roy. What do you think they're doing?"

"I don't know. What?"

"Got big stones and mortar down in the hole in three places, ready tobuild it up. Done it by now, perhaps. "

"How do you know?"

"Sergeant told me. Grinned at me and said they didn't mean to have anyone go out that way, nor yet come in at twelve o' clock at night. "

"Indeed!" said Roy, to whom this news was troublous, interfering as itdid with sundry misty notions in which he had indulged about retakingthe castle, or all making their escape. 

"Yes, sir; that general aren't a bit of a fool. Wouldn't be at all abad officer, if he was on the right side. That other chap wouldn't be abad sort o' sergeant either, if he knowed his duty to his king andcountry. But there's going to be a fight some day 'twix' him and me. "

"Nonsense! While we are prisoners we must behave ourselves, Ben. "

"Oh, must we, sir? What call's he got to get grinning at me? I'll makehim grin the wrong side of his mouth if he don't look out. "

"Yes; you are getting rusty, Ben, " said Roy, merrily. 

"Then why don't you make some plan, sir?" whispered the old sergeant inan earnest whisper. "Let's make a bold stroke for it, and retake thecastle. Think of what your father would say if you did. Why, if theking was to hear of it, he'd be that pleased, he'd send for you to thepalace and make a knight of you at once. "

"Poor king!" said Roy, sadly. "Perhaps by this time he has no palace tocall his own. "

"And he won't have, unless some of us shows we've got the right stuffleft in us. "

At that moment they were passing the sun-dial, and old Jenk started intowakefulness, rose, shaded his eyes, and stared at Roy. 

"That you, sir?"

"Yes, Jenk. "

"So it be. How are you, Master Roy--how are you? I've been thinking adeal about you, sir. Don't you be downhearted; just wait a bit, andyou'll see. "

"See--see what, Jenk?"

The old man shook his head and smiled in a cunning fashion. 

"You wait, sir, and you'll see, " he said; and he sank down again, laidhis head against the pedestal, and went off fast asleep. 

"Yes, Master Roy, you'll see, and before many months have gone by, " saidBen, solemnly. "Poor old Jenk! He's been a fine old soldier, and atrue follower of the house of Royland. "

"He has, Ben. "

"And he's going to be the first prisoner set free. "

He gave Roy a meaning look, and they separated, the lad to pass theother prisoners on the bench, and return their salutes as he went on tothe private apartments and made his way to his own room, to sit down bythe open window to try to think out some way of ending their captivityby turning the tables on the enemy. 

The day was warm, the thinking hard, and at last his brain refused towork any longer at the task of trying to do an impossible thing, theresult being that Roy suddenly opened his eyes after dreaming that somepeople were talking angrily in his room while he slept. 

But as he lay back, staring, and seeing that the room was empty, afamiliar and very stern voice came in through the window with thesewords, uttered in a perfectly unimpassioned voice, but one whichsuggested that against it there was no appeal:

"I have listened to all you had to say, Master Pawson, and all yourcomplaints. Now, hear me: and you had better take my advice, with whichI shall conclude. In the first place, in accordance with myinstructions, I concluded that iniquitous bargain with you. "

"Iniquitous, sir?" cried Pawson, in his highly-pitched voice, which nowsounded quite a squeak. 

"Yes, iniquitous. What else do you call it to sell your honour for thesake of gain? Iniquitous, treacherous; it is all that, but war made ita stern necessity that we should listen to your proposals. You kept toyour terms; the new government will keep to its bargain. You willretain the castle and estate, but there was no question of time. Ishall hold this place as a centre as long as we find it necessary. Youcan stay here or go till we have left. If you stay, take the advice Igave you. Go to your room, and stay there always, save when, like someunclean beast of prey, you come out to prowl at night. For, though yourlife is safe, I tell you that there is not a soldier in my force whodoes not look upon you with contempt. In future, sir, if you wish tomake any communication to me, be good enough to write. "

Roy would have shrunk away, so as not to listen, but these words filledthe room in the silence of that afternoon, and the general's retiringsteps were plainly heard, followed by a low hissing sound, as of someone expiring his pent-up breath. 

Then a soft, cat-like step was heard, and Roy said to himself--

"It seems as if Master Pawson's punishment has begun. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

THE USE OF A POWDER-MAGAZINE. 

Roy found, as the time glided on in his monotonous life, that Ben's newswas correct. General Hepburn was determined not to be surprised by anyparty of the Royalists who had learned from the fugitives that such apassage existed; and to make assurance doubly sure, he was about tobuild up the tunnel in three different places; but on second thoughts hedid otherwise, setting his men to work to carry kegs of powder to somedistance from the castle, placing them in a suitable position in thetunnel, and then, after making a fuse of several yards in length, havinga tremendously strong wall built up across the place, leaving a holejust big enough for the fuse to pass through. 

This was all done very quietly, Roy supposing that the men were merelybuilding. Then a few days were allowed to pass for the cement to settleand harden before the fuse was fired. 

The fact was known one morning at breakfast, when a terrific roar madeRoy rush from the table and up to the ramparts, in full expectation ofseeing a battery of guns just opening fire on the castle. 

"Yes, it is, " he panted to himself as he looked over towards the chapelhill, and saw the smoke rising from a mound of earth. 

But in a few minutes he knew the truth from one of the officers whochallenged him for coming there, and went back to breakfast with hisappetite gone, for he felt that one of the means of escape wascompletely sealed up, and the night would never come when he could, withthe help of his friends, lead Lady Royland through the passage on theirway to liberty. 

"And a good thing, too, " he said bitterly to the old sergeant, for thegrapes seemed to be very sour. "I don't want to escape. I wouldn't goif the way were open, and I'm sure my mother would not leave our own oldhome. Why, it would be like giving it all to Pawson, and I'll diebefore he shall have it in peace. "

"'Ray, 'ray, 'ray, 'ray!" cried Ben, softly. "Can't shout it out as Ishould like to, Master Roy. That's the right sperit, sir. We won'tnever give up, come what may. "

Old Jenk passed them just then, muttering to himself as he tottered by, and paying no heed when spoken to, while the various sentries treatedhim as a kind of amiable old madman, who was licenced to go about as hepleased, being perfectly harmless. 

Another day passed, and Roy was walking up and down in his favouritepart of the court-yard thinking of when he should ask General Hepburnfor a written permission to go about on the ramparts, for the officerhad spoken rather sharply to him after he had run up on the occasion ofthe blowing up of the tunnel. 

But he did not ask the general, for the events that followed came oneupon another so quickly that the matter passed out of his mind. 

For all at once, just as Ben was coming slowly up to him, one of thesentinels shouted to the officer of the guard below, and word was passedto the general that a dragoon was galloping up along the road as fast ashe could hurry his horse along. 

A few minutes later, in the midst of a little excitement, the man drewrein at the outer gate-way, held up a packet in answer to a challenge, and as soon as the drawbridge was lowered, he dismounted and walked hishorse over, for the poor beast was terribly distressed, and the riderappeared exhausted. 

Roy stood eagerly watching, for this evidently meant somethingimportant, otherwise the messenger would not have nearly ridden hishorse to death, the poor beast standing drooping in the middle of thecourt-yard; while the man, whose face was blackened with dust and sweat, and disfigured by a broad strip of plaster which extended from high upamong the roots of his closely-cropped hair on the left temple down tohis right eyebrow, leaned heavily on the sun-dial and asked for water. 

The general read his despatch carefully twice, and then turned to themessenger to question him in a low voice, looking at him searchingly thewhile. 

"Did General Braxley give you this despatch to bring?"

The man straightened himself up, but reeled and snatched at the sun-dialagain from weakness. 

"No, sir; to my comrade. We met a vedette of the enemy, and had to makea running fight for it till he went down, and I snatched up the despatchand came on. "

"How far from here are the enemy?"

"About five-and-twenty miles, sir, I should say. "

"In what direction?"

"Towards Exeter, sir. I did hear say that the king was with them. "

"Hah! And how strong are they, do you suppose?"

"'Bout four hundred horsemen, I heard say, sir; but it was only what mycomrade told me. "

"Go into the guard-room and get some refreshment, " said the general, after reading his despatch carefully again. 

The man turned to go, and just then his horse fell heavily, the bloodgushed from its nostrils as it gave a few convulsive struggles, and thenlay dead. 

The messenger went to its head, sank upon one knee, as Roy joined thegroup around, bent lower, kissed the poor animal's brow. Then he drewhis sword, cut off a piece of its forelock, thrust it into his wallet, and amidst perfect silence, followed one of the men to the guard-room, hanging his head, while Roy longed to go and shake him by the hand. 

The next moment the silence was broken by the loud blare of a trumpet, and a gun was fired from the gate tower. 

Roy had directly after a specimen of the general's military capacity, for by the time the court was filling with armed men, one of thesentinels on the north-west tower announced the coming of the squadronof horse that had been camping by and in the ruined chapel; while, within half an hour, the troop in the castle rode out, each bearing afoot-soldier upon the crupper of his saddle, --the squadron withoutwaiting to take on an equal number themselves. The general meanwhilesat upon his charger conversing in a low tone with the officer he wasabout to leave in command. 

Just then, looking very weak and ill, the messenger came hurrying out ofthe guard-room, putting on his steel cap. 

He waited till the general approached, and Roy was near enough to hearwhat was now said, the man speaking in a husky voice. 

"Beg pardon, general; will you give orders for me to be supplied with afresh horse?"

"What for?" said General Hepburn, turning on him sharply. 

"To go with you and join my regiment. "

"No; stay here. Captain Ramsay, if there is any ruse being practised, as soon as you hear that disaster has come to nay party, place that managainst the wall and have him shot. "

The dragoon raised his hand to his cap in salute; and as soon as thegeneral had ridden out, he staggered more than walked to where the deadhorse lay, and took its head into his lap, to sit gazing sorrowfullyinto its reproachful-looking, glazing eyes. 

"I'm a tough old chap, Master Roy, " whispered Ben, "but my eyes are sowatery I can hardly see; and if that orderly warn't an enemy, I'd justgo and shake him by the fist. "

Unconsciously the old sergeant had exactly expressed Roy's own feelings;but the next minute all show of weakness and sentiment had passed away. The trooper turned from the lookers-on, giving the horse's neck three orfour pats, and then began to unbuckle headstall, and take off bridle andbit before unbuckling the girths, rising and taking hold of the saddle, giving it a sharp snatch to drag it free. But he had to put hisheavily-booted foot against the horse's back, and tug several timesbefore he could get the girths from beneath the heavy weight. 

Then, throwing the saddle across his arm, and picking up the bridle, heturned to the nearest sentinel, asked a question, had the low archwaypointed out which led into the basement used for stabling, anddisappeared down the slope. 

"Oh, my lad, my lad, " said Ben, softly; "what a chance if we'd gotanything ready!"

"What--to surprise?" said Roy, as he watched the portcullisre-descending, and saw the drawbridge begin to glide up directly after. 

"That's it, sir. They're as weak as weak here now, with all them gone, and we're nine strong men, for Sam Donny could fight in spite of histwissen foot. "

"There's nothing the matter with Sam's foot, Ben; it's all sham; I'veknown it from the first. "

"What?--So much the better, then. "

"So much the worse, because we can do nothing. They are still a hundredstrong. "

"Nay, sir--not above eighty. "

"Ten to one, Ben. I'd do anything, but we have no arms. "

"Take 'em from them, sir. "

"Rash folly, Ben. I'm soldier enough now to know that it would be likethrowing away your lives. "

"Humph!" growled Ben; and the officer now in command came up and said, firmly--

"Now, Master Royland, I am sorry to seem harsh with you, but, saving atmeal-times, when I shall be glad to see you, I must ask you to keep yourchamber till General Hepburn returns, and hold no communication whateverwith your fellow-prisoners. "

"Very well, sir, " said Roy, majestically. 

"And you, sergeant, go to your fellows and keep with them. You can havean hour in the court-yard every day under guard. March!"

Ben saluted and went to where the corporal, Sam Donny, and the rest wereseated on the stone bench in the sun, spoke to them, and they all roseand went through the door-way close at hand; while Roy bowed to thecaptain stiffly and went through to the private apartments, and thenceto his own room, where he shut himself in, and soon after heard a sentryplaced at his door, a piece of routine that had for some time beendiscontinued. 

"How suspicious!" muttered Roy. "But no wonder! He doesn't mean to becaught napping. More didn't I, but I was. No chance of him having thesame luck. "

He went to the window, and the first thing he saw was the dead horsebeing dragged towards the gate-way, where it was left to wait till thebridge should be lowered again. 

"Poor thing! How roughly they are using it!" he thought. "Can't feel, though, now. "

Then his attention was taken up by seeing old Jenk with his white hairand beard streaming, as he tottered here and there in the sunshine, looking excited and without his weapon. 

"Why, they've taken the sword away from the poor old fellow, " thoughtRoy. "How absurd! It will make him half-mad, if it hasn't done soalready. "

But in a few moments the old man sat down on the pedestal of thesun-dial, and his head drooped on his breast. 

Beyond him, just visible at the foot of the slope and outside thestables, Roy could see the Roundhead trooper, bareheaded and stripped tohis breeches and shirt, rolling up his shirt-sleeves and beginning toclean his horse's harness. But something which seemed to be moreimportant took the boy's attention the next moment, and that was thefigure of Master Pawson upon the ramparts, walking up and down in thesunshine, this being the first time he had been visible by daylightsince the general's stern words. 

"Taking advantage of his being away, " thought Roy; and he was about toshrink back to avoid being seen, but his pride forbade that, and heleaned out and amused himself by parting the thick growth of old ivy, and thinking how easily he could get down into the court if he liked. 

"And that wretch could climb up while I'm asleep and kill me if heliked, " he thought, with a slight shudder, which he laughed off the nextmoment as folly. 

Dinner was announced in due time, and he was half-disposed not to go;but he joined the officers, and obtained permission from the captain tovisit his mother's room to tea. 

"Oh, yes, " said that officer, quietly. "I do not wish to be too hardupon you, Royland, only I cannot have you conspiring with your men toretake the castle now we seem weak. "

So Roy spent a pleasant evening with his mother, and in good timereturned to his own room, heard the sentry placed outside, and then satin the summer evening, trying to see the men stationed opposite, andupon the towers, from his open window. 

It was a very dark night, hot and promising a thunderstorm, the airfeeling so close that, when at last Roy retired, he left the largewindow wide open. 

"No fear of Master Pawson playing any tricks, " he said to himself with alaugh as he undressed and lay down, wondering whether the general wasgoing to attack some place, being in perfect ignorance of everything butthe fact that he had gone on some expedition. 

He fell asleep directly, and lay breathing hard till, in the midst of anuneasy dream, he was awakened suddenly by feeling a hand pressed uponhis mouth. 

Like a flash through the darkness he saw everything: Master Pawson hadclimbed up to his window from the court, entered silently, and was aboutto strangle him as he lay. 

But before he could attempt to resist, a pair of warm lips were pressedupon his brow, and then glided to his ear to whisper--

"Roy, my boy, not a sound! Don't speak! It is I--your father. "

The lad's breast rose as a great sob of joy struggled to his lips, whilehis hands seized that upon his mouth, pressed it closer, kissed thepalm, and were then passed round the neck of him who knelt by his bed. 

They did not stay there a moment; for one began to feel the face, andthe other was passed over the head. 

No moustache and pointed beard, no long flowing curls, only stubble andshort hair, and a long patch of plaster extending from the hair aboutthe left temple to the right eyebrow. 

Roy's mental eyes were opened; he saw it all now. At last! His gallantfather had risked his life to come to them in the disguise of aRoundhead trooper, and the general must have been sent on a fool'serrand so that the castle could be captured again. 

_Thump, thump, thump_! went Roy's heart as these thoughts rushed throughhis brain. Then the lips at his ear said, and it sounded strangelyincongruous--almost mocking:

"Go on snoring as you were, so that the sentry at your door may hear. "

Roy obeyed, and imitated the real thing as well as he could. 

"Your mother? If safe and well press my hand. "

The pressure was given, and the whisper went on through the snoring. 

"Roy, I have come at great risk through the accident of the capture of amessenger with a despatch. The general has gone where he was desired, but we have had time to take our men in another direction. To-night twohundred Cavaliers will have ridden in as near as they dare, and then onehundred and fifty will have dismounted and marched silently under coverof the darkness opposite the gates. --Snore, boy, snore!"

Roy had ceased his hard breathing, but his heart worked harder thanever, and he snored again; while Sir Granby went on:

"Tell me how many of our men you have here; where they are; whether theguard in the gate tower can be mastered while the bridge is lowered andthe portcullis raised. Tell me everything you can, with your lips to myear. My men must be waiting by now. "

Roy went on snoring, for the sound of the sentry pacing to and fro cameplainly through the door. But Sir Granby took up the hard breathing, and Roy placed his lips to his father's ear and whispered--

"Nine good brave fellows, but they are in the lower hall, and sentriesare placed over them. --They are all unarmed. --Guard-chamber andturret-stair are carefully guarded. --At least ten men in theportcullis-room and furnace-chamber. --Impossible to get in that way!"

Sir Granby's lips were at his son's ear directly, and he said--

"I heard a legend when I was a boy, that there was a secret way into thecastle, but it made no impression, and I never recalled it till I heardthat the place was taken. Don't tell me that the enemy surprised youthrough that?"

"Must, " whispered Roy; and anticipating that his father would suggestusing the same means, he continued: "Can't use it now; all blown up. Isthere no other way? Can't you scale the ramparts?"

"Impossible, boy. I must leave you, then. My life will be forfeit whenthe colonel returns, and it is too valuable to my king, my men, to youand your mother, to be thrown away. "

"But how can you escape, father?"

"By reaching the ramparts and plunging into the moat. Good-bye, boy. Tell your mother I will return soon with as great a force as I can; forthis place must be retaken. There--Heaven be with you! I dare notstay, for it may be hours before I can reach the ramparts. "

"But is there no other way, father? A hundred and fifty men, and no wayof getting them in!"

"Unless the drawbridge can be lowered and portcullis raised--none!"

A deep silence, only broken by the pacing of the sentry outside, and Roydreaded now lest the change of men should take place, and the door beopened to see whether the prisoner was safe. He tried all he could tothink out some plan, but every one seemed mad; and it was horrible to beso near success, and yet to fail. 

"It is of no use, boy; we are wasting time, " said Sir Granby, as Royclung to him. "It would be mad to try any other way, and spillingprecious blood. Good-bye!"

Roy tried to say the words in return, but they would not come; and, thoroughly unnerved in his despair, he clung to his father's neck tillhe felt himself repelled; and then the way of escape from their dilemmacame. 

In one instant a flash which vividly lit up the whole chamber darted inthrough the open window, and a deafening roar followed. 

But it was not the breaking of the storm, for the next moment theyrealised that the magazine below the opposite range of buildings hadbeen blown up, and the crumbling down of masonry, and the roar and crashof falling stones, endorsed the idea. 

"Hah!" cried Sir Granby, excitedly; "then there is a way!" And hardlyhad the words passed his lips when a distant huzzaing was heard, andwithout a moment's hesitation he sprang to the window and loweredhimself down. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

HOW THE CASTLE CAME BACK TO ITS OWNER. 

Shrieks and cries for help mingled with the blast of a trumpet and thetrampling of feet, as Roy hurried on his clothes, his first thoughtbeing not to follow his father, but to reach his mother's room, though, in the confusion of brain from which he suffered, he felt that he couldexplain nothing about the cause of the explosion. All he could thinkwas that by some means the Cavaliers must have contrived to gain accessto the powder-magazine. But how?

That was a mystery. 

While he hurriedly dressed, he could hear orders being given, and theguns which had been brought in and planted beneath the gate-way beingdragged into the middle of the court, and planted where they wouldcommand the terrible breach in the castle defences; for, by a flickeringlight, which was now rising, falling, and always gathering in intensity, Roy could see that a large portion of the eastern side of the buildingwas blown down, leaving a tremendous gap. The stabling, corridor, hospital-room, and servants' and other adjacent chambers, were gone; andas he gazed across from his open window, the light suddenly blazed up, brightly illuminating the ruin, and showing the garrison busilypreparing for their defence. 

It was time; for, as Roy paused for a few moments, hesitating to leavethe scene which fascinated him by its weird horror, the Royalists werecrossing the half-filled-in moat, scrambling, wading, helping eachother, and cheering madly. There was no formation; they were forced tocome on straggling as they could, but a fierce enthusiasm filled theirbreasts, and they literally swarmed into the ruins, and climbed here andthere among the flames and smoke. 

Fully expecting to be stopped, Roy opened his door; but the sentry hadbeen summoned with those from the towers and ramparts to defend thegreat gap, and Roy passed on to his mother's room, entered withoutstopping to knock, to see her surrounded by the women-servants at thewindow, their faces lit up by the flames rising brighter and brighterfrom the ruins. 

Lady Royland did not hear her son enter, but turned and caught his handsas he ran to her. 

"Roy!" she cried, wildly. "What does this mean?"

"Our turn at last, mother, " he said, wild with excitement. "Look, --lookat them, the Royalists; they've blown down that side, and father isthere with two hundred Cavaliers!"

"Roy!" she cried, hysterically. 

"Yes, " continued the lad, as he forced himself to the front, and gazedout; "look, mother; nothing stops them. Hurrah! More and more, and--"

The roar of one of the guns from the middle of the court drowned hiswords, and there was another roar, but the effect was little. The gunswere discharged point-blank at the storming party climbing on the ruins;but they were scattered like skirmishers, and the gun-fire did not checkthem in the least. To Roy it only seemed that they dashed in morefuriously, swarming, by the light of the blazing ruins, like bees; andbefore the guns could be reloaded, the Cavaliers were upon the defendersof the place, and a desperate hand-to-hand fight commenced. 

Roy turned excitedly to his mother. 

"Stop here; keep the women with you, and don't go near the window; theremay be firing;" and, even as he spoke, shots began to ring out. 

"Stop! Where are you going?" cried Lady Royland, clinging to him. 

"To release our men, and help my father, " said Roy. 

Lady Royland's hands fell to her sides, and the boy darted out of theroom and along the corridor, full of the idea that had flashed into hisbrain. 

Away to the end he ran unchallenged, turned to the right, and withoutmeeting a soul, reached the north-east tower, listening to the shoutingand clashing of swords in the court as the desperate fight went on, hisway lit by the glare from the flames in spite of the dense, heavy smokeand the choking fumes of exploded gunpowder which rolled along thepassage. 

With his heart beating wildly for fear he should be too late, Roy dasheddown the spiral staircase to the basement, and the next minute hereached the door of the lower hall, which formed the men'sprison-chamber. 

The sentries were gone, and he thrust back the bolts and turned theponderous key. 

"Ben! Corporal! Donny! All of you--quick!"

"Ay, ay, sir. You're only just in time, for we're most smothered. Whatdoes it all mean?"

"Don't talk! Follow me--guard-room. Enemy all in the court. "

He led the way back, the men literally staggering after him, halfsuffocated as they had been by the fumes of the powder, the explosionhaving been so near their prison. But they revived moment by moment inthe pure air, and growing excited by the sounds that reached them fromthe court-yard, they followed on along the lower passages till theyreached the crypt of the south-west tower, passed on to the stairway atthe base of the gate tower, and ascended unchallenged to the greatgate-way, where Roy dashed into the untenanted guard-room, and the menrapidly armed themselves with weapons from the racks. 

"Ready?" said Roy, in a whisper. 

"Yes, " came in a deep, excited growl. 

"Back, then, " cried Roy, "and we'll attack them in the rear. "

He ranged his men in the shadow, the combatants being wildly engagedamid a blaze of light, which prevented the movements of Roy's littleparty being seen; and he was about to lead them back through the greatcorridor to where they could dash out suddenly and make their diversionin the rear, when Ben suddenly laid his hand upon the boy's arm, and ranto one of the narrow slits of windows in the guard-room. 

"Trampling of horses, " he whispered, as he peered out, the glow upwardnow lighting the other side of the moat. "General's men coming back, sir. Take us up into the portcullis-room, and we must defend that andkeep it and the furnace-chamber to the death. They must not come in. "

Roy grasped the position, knowing well enough that as soon as thedefenders knew of the return of their friends, they would admit them, and the Cavaliers would suffer defeat. 

Giving the word, he dashed up the spiral followed by his men, and asthey stood ready to defend the place to the last, and keep bridge andportcullis as they were, he stepped up into the window and thrust outhis head, to see dimly a body of about fifty horsemen, who galloped upto the edge of the moat. 

"Halt!" shouted their leader. "No good: impossible. We must rideround, dismount, and join Royland through the breach. Forward!"

"Halt!" shrieked Roy with all his force in his cry, and then in a voicehe did not know as his own, he yelled out, "Royland! Royland! God savethe king!"

The effect was electrical. His words were answered by a loud "hurrah!"

Roy looked back from the window-splay. 

"Friends!" he panted. "Ben, up with you, and lower the bridge;" and asthe old sergeant sprang to the staircase, followed by five more, theothers seized the capstan-bars and began to hoist the portcullis; while, sword in hand, Roy stood on the narrow stair, determined to die soonerthan an enemy should pass. 

But the next minute the bridge was down, with the defenders in ignoranceof what was going on; the first knowledge they had of what was to comebeing given by the thunder of the horses' hoofs, and a deafening cheeras the Cavaliers dashed in. 

That charge decided the fight, for in less than five minutes, in spiteof the officer's desperate valour, the defenders broke and fled, to takerefuge in corridor and chamber, from whence they could fire upon theirenemies. 

But, half-mad now with excitement, and flushed by the certainty ofvictory, the Cavaliers, headed by Sir Granby Royland, went in pursuit, chasing the Parliamentary party through the passages, never giving themtime to combine, capturing knot after knot, and forcibly driving therest below, where, feeling that all was over, their captain ended thecarnage by offering to surrender. Then the triumphant Cavaliersgathered in the court-yard, waving hat and sword in the bright light ofthe burning building, and raising the echoes with their shouts. 

It was about this time that Roy, followed by his little party, soughtout his father, to find him at last, busy, like the careful soldier hewas, stationing men at the towers, and then arranging for a properdefence of the great gap in the castle side, though temporarily it wasnow well defended by a line of flames that no man could pass. 

Roy gazed in dismay at the blackened, blood-stained man, bleeding fromtwo fresh wounds, and was ready to wonder whether this was the gallant, handsome cavalier who had left the castle to go on the king's service soshort a time before. 

"Ah! my brave, true boy!" cried Sir Granby, catching him by theshoulders; "old Martlet tells me how you led them to open a way for ourfriends. It was the work of a good soldier, Roy. You'll be a generalyet. What do you say?" he continued, with a laugh; "as I am now?There, everything is safe for the present. Where is your mother? Am Ifit to see her, though?"

Roy said nothing, but clung to the hand that grasped his; and a fewminutes later Sir Granby was locked in his wife's arms. 

By this time a strong party had been formed to attack the flames; and asthere was an abundance of water from the moat, the day broke upon thequenching of the last burst of fire, and revealed a sad scene ofdesolation, the side of the castle on the east being one long hollowrange of burnt-out buildings, saving the hospital-room, which hadescaped, with a wide gap of tottering and piled-up ruins where themagazine had exploded, hurling great masses of stone into the court-yardand the moat. 

The fire mastered, Sir Granby commenced forming a rough breastwork ofthe stones, using for the most part all that could be dragged from themoat, the Cavaliers wading in and working like labourers to strengthenthe breach, which towards evening began to look strong with the roughplatforms made for the enemy's three heavy guns. The work was so farcompleted none too soon, for just at dusk a body of men was seenapproaching in the distance, and General Hepburn soon after appeared, tofind that he had been outwitted in turn, and that a long siege would benecessary before he could hope to be master of the place again. 

That long siege followed; and at last, weakened by loss of men andreduced from want of food, the Cavaliers were unable to combat theterrible assault delivered by the little army that had gradually beengathered about the walls, and the castle fell once more into the handsof the Parliamentarians, who were generous enough to treat the gallantdefenders with the honours they deserved. 

"But they would never have taken it, Roy, " said Sir Granby, "if that gaphad not been blown out. I'd give something to know how it occurred. Could it have been done by that villain Pawson out of despite?"

It was long before the truth was known, when, after years of exile withhis wife and son, Sir Granby Royland returned to take possession of hisruined castle and estate. For the young king had ridden into London, and his father's defenders were being made welcome to their homes. 

It happened during the excavating that went on, while the masons were atwork digging out and cleaning all the stones which would be availablefor rebuilding the shattered side, that Sir Granby wrote a letter toCaptain Roy Royland, the young officer in the body-guard of his majesty, King Charles the Second. The letter was full of congratulations to theyoung man on his promotion, and towards the end Sir Granby said--

"I have kept your mother away from the work going on, for I have beenafraid that the digging would mean the turning over of plenty of sadmementoes of that terrible time; but, strangely enough, thesediscoveries have been confined to two. You remember how we wonderedthat Master Palgrave Pawson never showed himself again, to takepossession of the place he schemed to win, and how often we wonderedwhat became of poor old Jenk. Well, in one day, Roy, the men came uponthe poor old man crouched up in a corner of the vault, close to themagazine. From what we could judge, the powder must have exerted itsforce upward, for several of the places where the stones were clearedout were almost uninjured, and this was especially so where they foundold Jenk. The poor fellow must have been striking his blow against hismaster's enemies, for, when the stones were removed, he lay there with alantern and a coil of slow-match beneath, showing what his object musthave been in going down to the magazine. The other discovery was thatof the remains of my scoundrel of a secretary. They came upon himcrushed beneath the stones which fell upon the east rampart, where, perhaps you remember, there was a little shelter for the guard. MasterPawson must have been on the ramparts that night, and perished in theexplosion. 

"Come home soon, Roy, my lad; we want to see you again. They ought togive you leave of absence now, and by the time you get here, I hope tohave the old garden restored, and looking something like itself oncemore. The building will, however, take another year. 

"Roy, my boy, they bury soldiers, as you know, generally where theyfall; and your mother and I thought that if poor old Jenk could havechosen his resting-place, it might have been where we laid him. As youremember, the old sun-dial in the middle of the court was levelled bythe explosion. It has been restored to its place, and it is beneath thestones that your grandfather's faithful old servant lies at rest. 

"Ben Martlet begs me to remember him to you, and says it will do hiseyes good to see you again; and your mother, who writes to you as well, says you must come now. My wounds worry me a good deal at times, and Idon't feel so young as I was; but there, as your mother says, what doesit matter now we can rest in peace? for we live again in another, ourown son--Roy. "

THE END.