ward all he knew.

"Then in their disappointment they went on down there," cried Sir
Edward, as excited now as his son. "The fiends! the monsters!" he
continued, as he entered his son's room. "Poor boy! Oh, Mark, lad, but
for God's mercy, this might have been you. Oh! who can think about the
old family enmity now? How long is it since you sent for old Rayburn?"

"Ever so long, father. Oh, I say, don't--don't say you think he'll die,
father!"

"Heaven forbid, my boy," said Sir Edward softly, and he laid his hand
gently on the wounded lad's brow--and kept it there as Master Rayburn
entered the room.

"You've heard, then!" he cried, throwing down his hat and stick, and
beginning to examine his patient.

"Yes, Mark tells me. Is it all true?"

"True, yes," growled Master Rayburn. "I find they attacked you, were
beaten, and then went across and round by the down to Cliff Castle.
When I got there it was in ashes, burnt out, and the wretches had gone
back with what plunder they could save, and two prisoners to their den."

"Two prisoners?"

"Yes--put your finger here, Mark, while I clip off his hair. Here's a
bad cut--Sir Morton badly hurt, and his sweet young child, Minnie."

"Oh!" cried Sir Edward excitedly. "But is this true--are you sure?"

"I had it from one of his men, Nick Garth. Badly wounded too. But he
and three others broke out of their window where they were prisoned, in
a tower chamber, and out of revenge, to keep the enemy from keeping the
place, as they were going to do, they set it on fire."

"Who did?" said Sir Edward sharply.

"Nick Garth and Ram Jennings. He's wounded too. A fine chance for you
now, Eden. You can march in and take possession of your enemy's lands."

"I'll march in and take possession of that cursed den that my boy here
tried to take, and failed," raged out Sir Edward. "Mark, we can do
nothing here. Off with you, and muster every man we have. I can't show
mercy now. Tell Daniel Rugg to get ready an ample supply of powder and
fuses, and I'll blow up the hornets' nest, and let them stifle where
they lie. Rayburn, you'll stay with this poor lad; and Heaven help you
to save his life."

"Amen," said Master Rayburn softly.

"His father--his sister--carried off by these demons," muttered Sir
Edward, and seizing his son's arm, he hurried with him to give his
orders himself.

Mark Eden followed his father, feeling half stunned. The one thought
which seemed to st