e some plan in your mind, Simon. Tell me what it is."

"I had wished to tell Sir Robert, but he is preparing the assault for
to-morrow and will not be turned from his purpose. I have indeed a plan,
but whether it be good or not I cannot say until I have tried it. But
first I will tell you what put it into my thoughts. Know then that this
morning when I was in yonder ditch I marked one of their men upon the
wall. He was a big man with a white face, red hair and a touch of Saint
Anthony's fire upon the cheek."

"But what has this to do with Aylward?"

"I will show you. This evening after the assault I chanced to walk with
some of my fellows, round yonder small fort upon the knoll to see if we
could spy a weak spot in it. Some of them came to the wall to curse us,
and among them whom should I see but a big man with a white face, red
hair and a touch of Anthony's fire upon his cheek? What make you of
that, Squire Nigel?"

"That this man had crossed from the castle to the fort."

"In good sooth, it must indeed be so. There are not two such
ken-speckled men in the world. But if he crossed from the castle to the
fort, it was not above the ground, for our own people were between."

"By Saint Paul! I see your meaning!" cried Nigel. "It is in your mind
that there is a passage under the earth from one to the other."

"I am well sure of it."

"Then if we should take the small fort we may pass down this tunnel, and
so carry the great castle also."

"Such a thing might happen," said Simon, "and yet it is dangerous also,
for surely those in the castle would hear our assault upon the fort and
so be warned to bar the passage against us, and to slay the prisoners
before we could come."

"What then is your rede?"

"Could we find where the tunnel lay, Squire Nigel, I know not what is to
prevent us from digging down upon it and breaking into it so that both
fort and castle are at our mercy before either knows that we are there."

Nigel clapped his hands with joy. "'Fore God!" he cried. "It is a most
noble plan! But alas! Simon, I see not how we can tell the course of
this passage or where we should dig."

"I have peasants yonder with spades," said Simon. "There are two of my
friends, Harding of Barnstable and West-country John who are waiting for
us with their gear. If you will come to lead us, Squire Nigel, we are
ready to venture our bodies in the attempt."

What would Knolles say in case they failed? The thought flashed t