o pikes could be thrust.

This done, Sir Edward reduced his force to one-third, this being plenty
to defend the wall should it be attacked from the inner side; and the
rest were sent back to the Tor Castle, for provisions and blankets.

"Now, Mark, lad," said Sir Edward, "the thing to consider is, how long
can the enemy hold out?"

"Not long, father," replied the lad; "they cannot have a very good
supply."

"That," said Sir Edward, "remains to be proved."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

PREPARATIONS FOR A SIEGE.

Siege was now commenced, Ergles being to all intents and purposes an
impregnable natural castle. Provisions and other necessaries were
brought up, and the force was divided into three watches, who regularly
mounted guard in the chamber in front of the wall. But the whole of the
next day passed without a sound being heard, the enemy not attempting to
break down their own side, for fear of getting into a trap, the utter
stillness being interpreted to mean a _ruse_ to get them to make an
opening through which an attack would be made.

Then another day was passed, and still all was quiet; but toward the
middle of the next those on guard in the chamber heard, and reported to
Mark, that they could hear the distant sound of stones rolling down, and
Mark went and listened so as to determine whether his father ought to be
roused, for after a very long watch he had lain down upon a blanket to
sleep.

"I wouldn't call un, Master Mark," said Dan. "He's tired enough.
Watches twice to our once. Let the hounds come; we could account for
'em if they tried to pull our wall down."

"Well, it would be plenty of time to awaken my father if they came and
tried," said Mark. "Look here, then, we'll wait; and let it be in
perfect silence, so that we may hear if they come as far as the other
side of the wall."

The men were as obedient to his orders as to those of Sir Edward, and
they all sat or lay about, with their weapons close to their hands,
listening in the darkness, the calm and silence being good for thought;
and before long Mark's brain was at work thinking about the state of
affairs at the castle, to which he had been three times since the siege
began, to see his sister and learn how Ralph Darley was progressing.

The news was always bad, Master Rayburn shaking his head and looking
very serious.

"Bad hurts, Mark, boy," he said, "bad hurts. I hope, please God, he may
be spared; but I have my fears."

"Mas