flutter, as it seemed to gain its climax, and then sank down with a
low dull roar.

From time to time there was a sharp tinkling, as the higher windows
cracked, broke, and fell upon the stones. Then came pouring down a
spouting torrent of silver fire, shooting right out of a stone
gargoyle-mouth as the molten lead from one part of the roof, dammed up
by other lead which had not melted, at last forced its way spattering on
to the paved terrace below.

But after these brilliant bursts, which had enchained Fred's attention
for a time, he turned once more toward the group of prisoners, whose
loud, careless talking had begun again, and he passed between two of the
guard stationed round them in a circle, while lying outside, in a
confused heap, just as they had been thrown, were the weapons of which
the Cavaliers had been deprived.

As Fred drew nearer, he could see that the careless attitudes of some of
the party were assumed, for in spite of the glow shed by the fire, it
was plain enough that the cheeks of several were of a deathly pallor,
and that they were suffering intense pain. One had a scarf tied tightly
round his arm; another had a broad bandage about his brow; hardly one
seemed to have escaped some injury in the desperate sally and defence.
But the aim of all was to carry their defeat with an air of the most
careless indifference--as if wounds were nothing to them, and they held
their Puritan captors in the most profound contempt.

"Hallo!" shouted a voice Fred had before heard, "here's my fire-eating
young ambassador. Why, hang it all, sirrah! How is it you were not to
the front before? I'd rather have given up my sword to you than have
had it knocked out of my hand by the ugliest crop-eared knave I ever
met."

Fred, the moment before, was eagerly scanning the group in search of Sir
Godfrey and his old companion; but he had searched in vain, and he was
anxiously debating within himself as to whether that meant bad news or
good. Had they escaped? and were they now safe, or--?

He was checked by the greeting of the tall, fair Cavalier, and advanced
to him at once, the high-spirited officer continuing his bantering
speech the while.

"Why, you heinous young rebel," he cried, "have you come to trample on
your poor prisoners now you have taken them; or are we to be shot, or
hung, or what?"

"Don't talk to me like that, sir," said Fred, eagerly, as he paused by
where the Cavalier lay; and now he could se