"He may be dying, and he may be suffering acutely, and he may, peradventure, need a drink," Giles remarked. Dick regarded the figure of the soldier a while longer thoughtfully. "He's an enemy, Giles." "He was, Dick, so long as he had the will and the strength. For myself, I feel no particular anger against yon helpless man now. But it may be a lure." "A lure?" Dick questioned. "Ay. They may leave him there to lure us out. For you must know, Dick, and they will know, Dick, of what value that man is to us." "How?" "He will, maybe, tell us the news. And news to a besieged castle is worth risking a life for. But, you see, in this castle--to our future glory and present inconvenience--there are so very few lives to be risked." "I'll go," said Dick, drawing himself up. "My child, could you carry him in?" Dick's face fell. "I'd drag him hither by the heels." "I think, were I wounded, I should scarcely like that kind of carriage," said Giles with a grimace. "You go, then," said Dick. Giles saluted. "At your honour's orders," said he. "And if you'll do as I tell you," he added, when Dick expostulated with him for addressing him so, "I'll let down the bridge and go out, Dick, and you must stand by to work it up again at need." He looked down at Dick very earnestly. "What you have to do, Dick, is the simplest thing in the world. If you see me fall, if you see the enemy close with me--more than, say, three at a time.--up with the bridge!" "And leave you!" Dick gasped. "Of course. It isn't me you're responsible for; it's Dent Castle. If I go out to bring in my man, there must be no danger to Dent. Understood, Dick?" "Yes." "And you'll do it?" "Yes." They shook hands, and going down to the court Giles lifted the portcullis, and stood in the arch, looking out. There was nothing to be seen but the body of the Puritan by the low wall, and nothing at all to be heard. Giles shaded his eyes with his hand, and searched the first meadow. Not a soul. Then he examined the camp in the meadow beyond. "I can get to my man and back before anyone there could get hither," he said. What he could not see was the little wood in the rear of the castle, and four troopers and an officer lurking in the orchard. He let down the bridge. "Now, Dick, stand here. And remember, if I fall, or am attacked, up with it!" Dick went and laid his small hand on the crank. Giles walked over the bridge, along the side of the moat to the wall of the orchard. He knelt down by the man's side, and felt for the heart, found it beat still, though feebly, and rose to his feet. As he did so he was almost blinded by the flash of a musket, and the ball carried away his old battered hat. Dick, at his post, turned very white, and knew suddenly, as he saw him face to face with death, how much he had come to love ragged Giles.