to take refuge within the
walls. The expenses of keeping up the castle were not large. The rivers
afforded an abundance of fish, and the forests on the mountainsides
sheltered an ample supply of game. Considerable numbers of half wild
sheep and two or three herds of cattle grazed on the domain round the
castle, and there were eight good horses in the stables, besides a score
of others on the hills. Most of the holdings had vineyards, and were
bound to furnish a certain amount of wine to the castle, and as the
consumption had been small since the estate was confiscated, the cellars
were full. Hector told the steward that the command of the castle itself
would be taken by an officer whom he would send down from Paris, who
would have control in all matters save in the management of the estate.

Before leaving, he called all the tenants together and told them that,
seeing how heavily the royal taxes pressed upon them, he should remit
half their annual payments until better times came, and also the fine of
a year's rent which they would in the ordinary course of things pay
on the appointment of a new lord. The news filled the poor people with
delight.

"I shall, however," he went on, "expect that you will render fully and
willingly the military service you are bound to give according to the
tenure of your holdings. In a short time my castellan will arrive here;
he will have instructions from me to make the service as little onerous
as possible, and that you shall each furnish your quota of men at times
when it may be most convenient for you. I shall, however, expect fifteen
men added to the strength of the garrison. These can be changed every
eight weeks. All the men capable of bearing arms will come up for
training one or two days in each month. I trust that you will never be
called upon to defend the castle, but I would have it always kept in
such a state that were troubles to arise you could all, with your wives
and families, find refuge here and be able to defend yourselves against
all attacks.

"Next winter I shall have the fortifications strengthened. I know that
you are bound to furnish horses and carts for so many days in the year.
I shall want this work performed, but you will be paid both for your own
work in building, and for your carts and horses; and as it will be done
at a time when there is little farm work on hand, this will be a benefit
to you, and the wages will be deducted from the payments that you have