end.

XI.

Sir James Tillie, Knight, of Pentillie Castle by Tamar and High Sheriff of
Cornwall, was an amiable gentleman of indolent habits and no great stock of
brains. On receiving Sandercock's message and instant appeal for help, he
cursed his Under-Sheriff for a drunken bungler, and reluctantly prepared
to ride West and restore order.

"Piers is a good fellow and a man of parts," he told his wife;
"but he gives up too much of his time to parliamenteering, and lets
his neighbourhood get out of hand. I protest, my dear, the miners down
there are little better than naked savages, and the substantial farmers
but a degree better. Here's a fellow, if you please, who answers the law
with armed violence--a man, too, of education, as education goes.
Sandercock's a coward. On his own showing the gun was loaded blank, and
by this time no doubt Master Stephen is quaking at his own temerity and
wondering how to save his skin. A few firm words, and he'll be meek as a
lamb. What surprises me is that a man of affairs like Piers should lose
his head and endorse Sandercock's sweating post; but I always say that, if
the gentlemen of England are to maintain their influence, they should live
on their own acres." From this it will be seen that Sir James was a
prolix rather than a clear thinker.

He took an affectionate leave of his wife, and travelling by easy stages
with a single groom for escort, on the third day reached Nansclowan, where
Sir John and his lady made him welcome.

"You have ridden ahead of your force?" said Sir John pleasantly.

"My force?"

"How many are you bringing?"

"I don't quite take you. Eh? 'Soldiers'? My dear fellow--an affair of
this kind--you surely didn't expect me to make myself ridiculous by
marching through Cornwall with a regiment!"

"You mean to say that you've brought none?"

"Oh, to serve a writ on a yeoman!" and Sir James laughed heartily.

"Look here, Tillie, you shall ride over with me to-morrow at daybreak
and look at the place. The man has sixty stout farmers at his back.
They know that the soldiery has been sent for, and for five days they've
been working like niggers. The front of the house is loopholed, and along
the rear, which was their weak point, they've opened a trench six feet
wide by six deep. By to-night's report they have even begun as outworks
two barricades across the high-road, and no traffic may pass without
permission."

"It seems to me your part