thing, but his heart worked harder than
ever, and he snored again; while Sir Granby went on:

"Tell me how many of our men you have here; where they are; whether the
guard in the gate tower can be mastered while the bridge is lowered and
the portcullis raised. Tell me everything you can, with your lips to my
ear. My men must be waiting by now."

Roy went on snoring, for the sound of the sentry pacing to and fro came
plainly through the door. But Sir Granby took up the hard breathing,
and Roy placed his lips to his father's ear and whispered--

"Nine good brave fellows, but they are in the lower hall, and sentries
are placed over them.--They are all unarmed.--Guard-chamber and
turret-stair are carefully guarded.--At least ten men in the
portcullis-room and furnace-chamber.--Impossible to get in that way!"

Sir Granby's lips were at his son's ear directly, and he said--

"I heard a legend when I was a boy, that there was a secret way into the
castle, but it made no impression, and I never recalled it till I heard
that the place was taken. Don't tell me that the enemy surprised you
through that?"

"Must," whispered Roy; and anticipating that his father would suggest
using the same means, he continued: "Can't use it now; all blown up. Is
there no other way? Can't you scale the ramparts?"

"Impossible, boy. I must leave you, then. My life will be forfeit when
the colonel returns, and it is too valuable to my king, my men, to you
and your mother, to be thrown away."

"But how can you escape, father?"

"By reaching the ramparts and plunging into the moat. Good-bye, boy.
Tell your mother I will return soon with as great a force as I can; for
this place must be retaken. There--Heaven be with you! I dare not
stay, for it may be hours before I can reach the ramparts."

"But is there no other way, father? A hundred and fifty men, and no way
of getting them in!"

"Unless the drawbridge can be lowered and portcullis raised--none!"

A deep silence, only broken by the pacing of the sentry outside, and Roy
dreaded now lest the change of men should take place, and the door be
opened to see whether the prisoner was safe. He tried all he could to
think out some plan, but every one seemed mad; and it was horrible to be
so near success, and yet to fail.

"It is of no use, boy; we are wasting time," said Sir Granby, as Roy
clung to him. "It would be mad to try any other way, and spilling
precious blood. Good-bye!