e not so poor but that we
can afford to give them to you."

The body was taken up by the men sent to fetch it, and slowly they
wended their way back to the camp. An officer approached while the flag
of truce was flying. He was one with whom Colonel Blake was acquainted.

"Here, friend," he said, "you see the weakness of our works. We trust
not to them. Tell Prince Maurice that should he desire to come in, we
will pull down a dozen yards, so that he may enter with ten men abreast,
and we will give him battle."

"Not so," answered the Royalist, stung by the reproach to the military
prowess of his party. "We will take our own time, but will come ere
long."

The Colonel replied by a scornful laugh.

All that day we enjoyed unusual quiet, for the Royalists had not the
heart again to attack us, though we were well aware they would do so
should occasion favour them.

Day after day and week after week went by, still our garrison held out.
Our provisions were running short, as was our ammunition, and should
that fail us--notwithstanding all the heroic efforts which had been
made--we should be compelled to yield.

My friend Dick was still very anxious about his father.

"I have an idea!" exclaimed Lancelot. "You, Dick, are like your sister
Mildred. Probably the Prince is not aware she is not in the town. What
say you to dressing up in her clothes, and taking Ben with you? he can
pretend to be your brother. He looks so young, no one would think of
injuring him more than they would you, supposing you to be a girl. You
can steal out at night; go boldly to the Prince, and say you wish to see
your father. He will scarcely refuse you. You can then tell Mr Harvey
your plan, and he is a man of wealth; the chances are he'll find the
means of bribing his guards. I meantime will sail along the shore, and
landing, arrange as I proposed about a horse, which I will have ready at
the foot of Charmouth Rise."

We kept our plan secret. I had some doubt whether I was acting rightly,
but I trusted that my father would not blame me. Audrey and Cicely were
delighted, and soon rigged up Dick, so that the keenest eye would not
have discovered that he was a boy.

That very night Lancelot, accompanied by Tom Noakes, who had charge of
his boat, put out of the harbour, and favoured by a light breeze, stood
along the shore. We slipped out and crept along past the sentries,
making our way to the east of Colway Hill. Every moment