"Look here, mother; the news is sure to reach London that we are being
besieged. Then father will hear it; and do you suppose he will stand
still? Either he will come himself, or see that help is sent."
Roy repeated his encouraging words one day at dinner, in the presence of
the secretary, a full three weeks after the enemy had sat down before
the 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 to
ask 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 fellow
a good sleep."
"Master Pawson will, I am sure," said Lady Royland, gravely. "He has
said 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 only
hesitated because I am so helpless--such a poor creature over matters
like this."
"It doesn't want anything but to keep awake, and a sharp lookout. You
ought 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 a
great deal of sleep. I suppose it's from studying so much. But I'll
come 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 should
not be of much use. To-morrow night, if you want me, I will gladly come
and 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 with
me."
_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 our
dinner in peace."
"Yes," said the secretary, with a forced laugh; "they might let her
ladyship have her dinner in peace."
"Oh, mother!" cried Roy, "don't look so white and anxious. You ought to
be 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 pay
for it all being done up again."
"No doubt he will," said the secretary. "But you were saying something
about the armoury. Shall I have to see to the men's weapons being
served 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 pick
out one, and I have it in my room."
"Well done!" cried Roy, clapping his hands. "There, mother, who's ever
going to think of surrendering when Master Pawson makes preparations
like 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 forget
that 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 the
old Latin."
The bent of the conversation turned, and the dinner ended in a very
cheerful manner, for as time went on, Lady Royland could not help
feeling hopeful. For want of the necessary war-material, the enemy
seemed to be able to do no more in the way of a regular siege, and their
efforts with the battery were becoming somewhat relaxed. No more men
had been injured, and the sufferers in hospital were doing well. In
fact, the general opinion in the castle was that before very long the
enemy would, if they found they could not starve the defenders out, give
up the attack, the castle being too hard a nut to crack.
That evening, while the firing was going on in a desultory way, Roy
visited 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 fine
strong men, too. But what do you think of my going to read to them for
an 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 understand
sarabands and corantos; and you can't play jigs."
"No," said the secretary, grandly, but with a peculiar look. "Perhaps
they would not appreciate good music. And you are right; I do not
understand jigs."
He nodded and crossed to the door-way leading up to his room, and Roy
directly after encountered old Jenk.
"Hallo! where are you going?"
"Eh, eh? Master Roy? Oh, only up on to the platform to see the firing
for a bit!"
"I say, don't you get shot."
"Me? Me? No, sir; they won't hit me. Look--look!" he cried, pointing
upward. "Flag--ladyship's flag! Blows out bravely. See--we'll never
surrender."
"Yes. Never surrender, Jenk. Too good soldiers for that."
"Ay, ay, ay!" cried the old man. "Too good soldiers for that. Brave
boy! Your father's son. But you'll have my little gate-house built up
again, Master Roy, when they've gone, eh? They've knocked it about a
deal. 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 a
brave soldier Ben Martlet and I have made you."
The old man chuckled and went in at the door-way to mount the spiral
stairs, while Roy turned and looked up at the flag, well blown out by
the evening breeze.
"Poor old fellow! Helped to make me a soldier, has he? Well, it
pleases him to think so."
The lad ran his eye along the side of the court-yard, sadly trampled
now, and fancied he saw a head quickly withdrawn at one of the narrow
windows of the north-west tower; but he was not sure, and it did not
impress him then as he went on to the hospital-room, where the wounded
men received him eagerly, Sam Donny being the most demonstrative, and
ending by begging that he might be ordered on duty again.
"Another week at least, first," said Roy. "Only too glad to have you
all back."
Roy stayed till it was dark, and he was descending to the court-yard
when a loud shouting below took his attention, and upon running out he
found 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 pulled
down?"
"I? No!" cried Roy, excitedly. "I said it was to be kept up night and
day. Who has dared to do this?"