Roy and the old soldier hurried to a slit which gave on the road, and
the latter began to breathe hard with excitement as his eyes rested upon
three 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't
know 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 old
retainer slammed it to with a heavy, jarring sound, and challenged the
horsemen, 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 were
dismounting 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 brave
lads 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 his
forehead.
"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 if
they'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 the
way. 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 my
father'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 a
great letter tied with silk and sealed, and held it out, first on one
side, then upon the other, for the boy to see.
"Yes," cried Roy, eagerly, "that's my father's writing, and it is his
seal. Open the gate, Jenkin, and let them in. Why, my lads, you look
worn-out."
"Not quite, sir; but we've had a rough time of it. The country's full
of 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 great
drawbridge, over which the horses' hoofs began to rattle loudly. But
they had not gone half-way across the moat before there was the rustle
of a dress in front, and, looking ghastly pale and her eyes wild with
excitement, Lady Royland came hurrying to meet them.