ction pointed out, and Ben
stopped back for a moment or two to whisper to Roy, in a quick, vexed
manner--

"Don't go on saying we'll do this next, or we'll do that next, sir, as
if you was asking a favour of us. You're captain and castellan, as they
calls him. You're governor and everything, and you've got to order us
to 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're
ordering him sharply to do what's right. Of course, if you ask us in
your 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 quite
realise 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, just
suppose the enemy was in front playing up ruination and destruction, and
your 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 to
attack those rapscallions yonder'? Not he. He'd just say a word to the
trumpeter, 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 be
at 'em like a whirlwind, and scatter 'em like leaves. You must learn to
order 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't
you 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's
throat as he turned sharply and marched off to the men, chuckling to
himself 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 the
door-way, he thought of the journey down to the powder-magazine, and
felt a little shame at his nervousness.

Then up and up past the two floors and on towards the roof. As he
reached the door-way leading out on to the battlements, he stood in the
gloomy interior, and looked along the roof of the untenanted portion
towards the north-west tower, wondering what Master Pawson was doing.

He was not left in doubt,