you
three men, will you take service under the Parliament, and keep your
ranks with the promise of early promotion?"

"Shall I speak for you, comrades?" asked Ben.

"Yes," they cried together.

"Then not a man of us, sir. We're Sir Granby Royland's old troopers,
and we say, God save the king!"

The general made a sign, and the four men were surrounded and marched to
one side in the direction from whence they had been brought; while at
another sign, the rest of the prisoners, with Farmer Raynes at their
head, closed up in line.

"What are you?" said the general, sternly, beginning with the sturdy
tenant of the estate.

"Farmer."

"And you?"

"Butler."

And so all along the line, each man making his response in an
independent, defiant tone.

"Will you come and serve the Parliament?" said the general. "I want
strong, brave men."

He looked at Farmer Raynes as he spoke, but glanced afterwards at every
man in turn.

"Then you must go and look for 'em somewhere else, squire. You won't
find a man on Sir Granby Royland's estate."

A murmur from the rank showed how the rest acquiesced.

The general made a sign, and a squad of musketeers surrounded the men.

"Go back to your homes, my lads; but remember, if you are found in arms
again, you will be shot. Escort these men beyond the moat."

Farmer Raynes turned sharply to Roy.

"Can't help ourselves, captain," he cried, loudly; "but shot or no,
we're ready when you want us again.--Good-bye, Martlet, old comrade.--
Take care of him, general, for he's as fine a soldier as ever stepped.--
Now, my lads, three cheers for my lady, and then march."

The prisoners burst into a hearty roar, and were then escorted through
the gate-way and over the drawbridge beyond the strong picket stationed
by the earthwork. Here they cheered loudly again.

"Hallo! who are you?" said the general, sharply, as his eyes lit upon
the flowing white hair and beard of the tottering old gate-keeper, who,
fully armed, and with his head erect, took a few paces forward from
where he had stood before unobserved.

"Sir Granby's oldest follower, and his father's afore him," said Jenk,
in his feeble, quavering voice. "Do I go with Ben Martlet and t'others
to the prison?"

"No," said the general, shortly; "stop and attend to your young master,
and mind you don't get playing tricks with that sword."

"But I'm a soldier as has sarved--"

"Silence, Jenk!" said Roy, hastily stepping to h