after a figure, mounted upon a heavy
cart-horse, came into sight, thundering along at full gallop. At the
first glimpse it seemed as if the horse had run away with his bareheaded
rider; but directly after it became plain that, though only riding
saddleless, and with no rein but a halter, the big man was urging the
horse forward with all his might.

"Why, it must mean news!" said Roy, excitedly, as he advanced towards
the drawbridge.

"Ay, there's something wrong, sir," said Ben, gravely. "That we shall
soon hear."

The armed men stood fast on one side, and those disarmed in a group on
the other, waiting excitedly to see what this new thing meant.

"It's Farmer Raynes!" cried Roy.

"Ay, sir, that's who it be. He was coming with a wainload of oats this
morning, and he wants help, for he has broken down, I should say."

The next minute the rider dashed up to the far gate, but did not draw
rein, for he sent his horse thundering across the drawbridge before he
checked the panting beast with a loud "_woho_!" and then threw himself
off.

"What's the matter, Master Raynes?" cried Roy.

"They're here, sir," whispered the bluff farmer, excitedly. "I'd got a
wagon loaded with oats last night, and was taking 'em from Dendry Town
to the farm ready for bringing on here i' morning, when at a turn of the
lane I come upon a troop of horse who surrounded the wagon at once, and
a couple of 'em led me, whip and all, up to their officer, a
lank-looking, yellow-faced fellow, who was sitting on his horse just
under a tree.

"`Where are you taking that grain?' says he.

"`On the king's service,' says I. `To Royland Castle.'

"His yellow wrinkly face grinned all over, and he turned and gave orders
to an officer by him; and then I knew I'd made a mistake. For they were
all well-mounted, and in a regular trooper's uniform, and I thought I'd
happened upon one of the king's regiments, instead of which they were a
pack of Roundhead rabble; and I had to drive the team back with the oats
to their headquarters at Dendry Town. There they made me open a sack to
feed their horses; and after that I was told I was a prisoner, and that
my wagon and team was taken for the use of the state."

"Dendry Town--ten miles away," said Roy, thoughtfully.

"Many on 'em?" said Ben, sourly.

"There was about fifty as took me," said the farmer; "and I should say
there were seven or eight hundred in the town swarming all over the
place."

"But ho