find out very
little."

"I think we've found out a great deal," replied Scarlett. "This is no
well. It's the edge of the lake, and this--"

"Nonsense!"

"I feel sure it is, and this must be a secret way into the house, hidden
under water. Fred, we must have a search outside, and see if we can't
find the place."

"Then you will not stay here any longer?" said Fred, throwing down the
sword upon the rusty heap.

"No; let's go back now. We have found out a very curious thing; and if
we can discover the way in from outside, it will be splendid."

"Come along, then," replied Fred, crossing to the heap of old armour,
and stooping over it, candle in hand. "But I wonder how old these
things are. Do you think we could clean the armour, and make it look
bright again?"

Scarlett shook his head as he picked up the remains of an old helmet.

"It must have been a time of war when this house was built," he said
thoughtfully; "and the secret passage was forgotten when it became a
time of peace."

"But it is not a time of peace now, is it? I heard that there would
very likely be war."

"Who told you that?"

"I heard your father and my father talking about it; and they both grew
cross, and your father soon got up and went home."

"Then your father must have said something he did not like against the
king."

"My father does not like the king," said Fred, sharply.

"And my father does," cried Scarlett, with a flash of the eye.

"Oh, never mind about that now," said Fred, looking at his old companion
in a troubled manner. "What has it got to do with us? What shall we do
now?"

"Go back," replied Scarlett; "for we cannot get any farther along here.
I say, Fred, it does not seem such a terrible place now you are used to
it, does it?"

"Terrible!" cried Fred, stoutly. "Why, I like it. Don't, pray don't,
tell anybody about it, and we can have fine games here. It's ever so
much better than a cave, and we can smuggle all sorts of things up here.
I mean up there in that room."

"Yes, if I don't tell my father about it."

"Oh, don't tell him yet! not till we're tired of it. Then I don't
mind."

Scarlett made no reply, but holding his candle above his head, went out
of the vault, stopping afterwards while Fred drew to the door. Then,
with the ease begotten of use, they went along the tunnel, up the steps
to the chamber, and then along the passages to the great staircase,
lying down and rolling themselves ov