en staggered back and
fell groaning upon the stones.

The officer stamped his foot.

"Pikes and swords," he cried; and in obedience to his orders a little
column of a score of men dashed forward and tried to enter, thrusting in
their pikes; and as many as could get to the door striving desperately,
but only to be beaten back, and their discomfiture increased by a few
more shots.

The attack was resumed with fresh men again and again, but the defenders
fought desperately, and in every case the attacking party were driven
back with several men badly wounded.

"Block the place up and starve them out," said Pawson.

"No," said the officer sternly. "The work must be done at once.
Powder," he cried to a couple of men near him, and a party marched off.

After a short delay, during which Roy looked vainly round for the
secretary, the latter appeared again with the men, one of whom bore a
keg. To this a piece of fuse was attached ready for lighting, and the
officer walked to Roy's side.

"Look here, youngster," he said. "I shall stand at nothing to complete
the reduction of this nest. You see that keg of powder. If these men
do not surrender at once, I shall treat them as desperate vermin and
blast them out or bury them, with perhaps half the tower upon their
heads. It rests with you whether I shall kill a dozen or so of brave
men or spare them. Which is it to be?"

Roy was silent.

"Come," said the officer, "I want to be merciful now. You are Sir
Granby Royland's son. He is a brave soldier, though mistaken in
defending a tyrant. I tell you that when a cause is hopeless he would
act as I ask you to do. Now you have well proved your courage, and you
spoke before in the rage of defeat. Speak now as a brave officer who
would not willingly sacrifice his men. What do you say?"

Roy said nothing, for his heart swelled with emotion, and the words
would not come. The officer came closer, so that none other could hear.

"In God's name, boy," he whispered, "don't force me to do this brutal
act; I ask you as the son of a brave soldier. Tell them to surrender
now."

The way in which these words came to Roy's ear achieved that which no
threats or insult would have done. It was an enemy speaking, but
something told him that he was a brave soldier too; and without another
word Roy stepped up to the door-way, from whence a mistaken shot might
have laid him low.

The officer grasped this, and shouted loudly--