mall cave below the top of the cliff which seemed to run up under the
castle. The colonel's eyes blazed at the news, and he ordered the man
to lead him instantly to the spot. Do you see a square grey patch on
the face of the cliff up there, sir, nearly at the top, under the south
corner?"

"Yes; what is it?"

"That's the mouth of the cave. At least, it's not a cave now, for it's
filled up. But it was there the trooper, under cover of night, led the
colonel and the captain. They didn't do more than mark the place then,
for fear an alarm might be given by a sentinel within.

"`Now,' says Colonel Frank, `the castle's ours; and not a soul inside it
shall be there by this time to-morrow.'

"`What shall you do?' says Captain Morgan, pale, and with a shaky voice.

"`Do? Art thou a dunce, Morgan? Without doubt, at the end of that cave
is a way up into the castle; and though the passage be too narrow for
all my troop, three men and a captain will suffice to lay faggots and
light them at the door. What say you, comrade?'

"`What!' cries Morgan, `would you burn the place? No, no, colonel; we
will capture it if we can, but it is no soldier's work to burn men in
their beds!'

"`Fool!' exclaims the colonel, in a passion, `it is no captain's work to
read sermons to his colonel, sirrah! These rebels shall be smoked out
like all other vermin!'

"`But,' says the captain once more, and very pale--`but I hear there is
a lady in the castle, and--'

"`Peace, sir, on your peril!' exclaims the colonel, `and hold yourself
ready to obey orders when I shall give them.'

It was no use saying more, young Morgan saw that. As it was, he knew
his colonel half suspected him of some treachery, and for the rest of
that day put a watch upon him. Twenty times that day he was on the
point of risking all consequences and declaring to his officer's face he
would have no hand in this bad business. But the thought of how much
worse that might be for the folk in the castle kept him to his post.

"Well, sir, the day passed, and they kept up a show of besieging the
place on the land side, and took care to keep all Fulke's guns turned
that way. But at nightfall Colonel Frank called Morgan to him and
ordered him to take six men, whom he named, and try the passage.

"`If you find a sentinel at this end,' says the colonel, `see he is
overpowered and taken before an alarm can be given. Over the cliff will
be the shortest way with him. The