one fine breezy afternoon, when the lads were shouting and playing
at this, then their favorite game, Myles himself was at the trap
barehanded and barearmed. The wind was blowing from behind him, and,
aided perhaps by it, he had already struck three of four balls nearly
the whole length of the court--an unusual distance--and several of the
lads had gone back almost as far as the wall of the privy garden to
catch any ball that might chance to fly as far as that. Then once more
Myles struck, throwing all his strength into the blow. The ball shot up
into the air, and when it fell, it was to drop within the privy garden.

The shouts of the young players were instantly stilled, and Gascoyne,
who stood nearest Myles, thrust his hands into his belt, giving a long
shrill whistle.

"This time thou hast struck us all out, Myles," said he. "There be no
more play for us until we get another ball."

The outfielders came slowly trooping in until they had gathered in a
little circle around Myles.

"I could not help it," said Myles, in answer to their grumbling. "How
knew I the ball would fly so far? But if I ha' lost the ball, I can get
it again. I will climb the wall for it."

"Thou shalt do naught of the kind, Myles," said Gascoyne, hastily.
"Thou art as mad as a March hare to think of such a venture! Wouldst get
thyself shot with a bolt betwixt the ribs, like poor Diccon Cook?"

Of all places about the castle the privy garden was perhaps the most
sacred. It was a small plot of ground, only a few rods long and wide,
and was kept absolutely private for the use of the Countess and her
family. Only a little while before Myles had first come to Devlen,
one of the cook's men had been found climbing the wall, whereupon the
soldier who saw him shot him with his cross bow. The poor fellow dropped
from the wall into the garden, and when they found him, he still held
a bunch of flowers in his hand, which he had perhaps been gathering for
his sweetheart.

Had Myles seen him carried on a litter to the infirmary as Gascoyne
and some of the others had done, he might have thought twice before
venturing to enter the ladies' private garden. As it was, he only shook
his stubborn head, and said again, "I will climb the wall and fetch it."

Now at the lower extremity of the court, and about twelve or fifteen
feet distant from the garden wall, there grew a pear-tree, some of the
branches of which overhung into the garden beyond. So, first makin