Dick suddenly felt a wild thrill of excitement, and a tightening of the throat as if he would choke. On the one side he saw himself alone in the great world without the walls, seeking his sovereign, every tree and hedge hiding an enemy. On the other, he saw himself alone in the great empty castle of Dent, fearing at every sunrise the sight of advancing artillery, and dreading to hear the thunder of guns in the darkness of every night. "Draw, draw," said Giles, smiling down at him. "Now!" Dick drew one of the narrow green blades, biting his lip hard as he did so. Giles opened his hand and looked at the one he still held. "The long one stays," he said. "Dick, it is you." They had risen for this solemn business, but now they sat down side by side. Giles was relieved, and Dick felt, now that the choice was made for him, that he would have been disappointed had it turned out otherwise. "No time to lose," said Giles cheerily. And Dick said excitedly: "Tell me what I shall do. Shall I go to-night? Giles, they'll see us let down the bridge. If they take me, what must I do with the letter?" "We'll have no letter, Dick," said Giles, stemming the questions. "'Tisn't safe; 'tisn't needed. Now, hearken!" Giles explained what the messenger must do. He must go out that night, but not till late, for the moon shone on the wrong side for them yet. When the back of Dent was in shadow, Dick must climb out by the little window in the buttery--Giles would take out the bars. Dick must then swim the moat, as Giles knew he was quite equal to doing in moments of excitement. (Dick laughed guiltily at that.) He must then put on a dry suit, for fear the damp and the night air together crippled him with an ague before he reached Lumley. Before he swam across the moat he was to hurl a bundle of clothes to the other side ready. "Do you know the way to Lumley?" Giles asked. "By the fields," said Dick. "Once I went thither with Master Purvis to a coursing-match." "How long will it take you to get there?" "About two hours. 'Tis a shorter way by the fields, but the first bit's uphill." "Well, avoid roads and people. If a Puritan accosts you, you're a poor boy driven from home by the enemy. So you are. Your father's killed, and your mother's dead; you have no brothers. You haven't, have you?" "No," said Dick. "I'd a step-brother, but he died years ago in France." "Oh, well, you needn't drag him into a talk with a Puritan! If you meet any of our people you're Richard Chester of Dent, with news for His Majesty or any general commanding at Lumley. And, mind this, Dick, don't tell anything else to anyone till you've seen the chief. Don't be led into the tale of our siege, because no one will believe you. Be sure of that." "Will the King or the general believe me?" Dick asked.