knowing what I did of my old
officer's state--"

"`Old officer' is better, Captain Purlrose. Go on, sir."

"I said, here am I, a brave soldier, with a handful of stout followers,
eager to do good, honest work; why should I not go and offer my sword to
Sir Morton Darley? He is sorely pressed."

"Wrong," said Sir Morton.

"He would be glad of our help," continued the man, without heeding the
interruption; "we could garrison his castle and help him to drive his
enemy from the field. Twelve of them, all well-tried soldiers, who can
make him king of the country round. That, sir, is why I have come, to
confer a favour more than ask one. Now, sir, what do you say? Such a
chance for you may never occur again."

"Hah!" ejaculated Sir Morton; "and all this out of pure good
fellowship!"

"Of course; save that a retainer who risks his life in his chief's
service is worthy of his hire."

"Naturally, sir. So that is your meaning--your object in coming?"

"That is it, Sir Morton. We can put your castle in a state of defence,
make raids, and harass the enemy, fetch in stores from the surrounding
country, and make you a great man. Think of how you can humble the
Edens."

Sir Morton frowned as he looked back at the past, and then from thence
up to his present position, one in which he felt that he played a humble
part in presence of his stronger enemy; and Ralph watched him, read in
his face that he was about to accept his visitor's proposal, and with a
feeling of horror at the thought of such a gang being hired to occupy a
part of the castle, and brought, as it were, into a kind of intimacy, he
turned quickly to his father, laid his hand upon his arm, and whispered
eagerly:

"Father, pray, pray don't do this. They are a terribly villainous set
of ruffians."

The captain twitched his big ears in his efforts to catch what was said;
but he could only hear enough to make out that the son was opposing the
plans, and he scowled fiercely at the lad.

"Wait, wait," said Sir Morton.

"But do go out and look at the rest of the men, father," whispered
Ralph.

"There is no need."

"Then you will not agree, father?"

"Most certainly not, my boy."

Purlrose could not catch all this, but he scowled again.

"Look here, young cockerel," he cried, "don't you try and set my old
officer against me."

"No need," said Sir Morton hotly.

"Ah, that's because hard times have made me and my poor gallant fellows
look a littl