The captain made a long arm and struck at him. Dick dodged the blow, flew down the steps, whipped across the courtyard, over the drawbridge, and out of sight. Captain Dent spurred after him, thundered across the bridge, and stared about him. The long white road twisted through the fields to the highway. Through the length and breadth of the land all was still. There was not a sign of Dick. The captain was furious. He swore. He stormed. He searched every ditch and hedgerow with his eye. No Dick. The fat steward came ambling out behind him. He suggested that they should call to him. As if, quoth his kinsman, he would come! It was rather like singing: "Dilly-dilly ducks, come and be killed", you know, for John Dent was a cruel man, and Dick feared him dreadfully. There was only a thrashing in store for him did he come. Master Purvis suggested searching. "Not I," said the captain; "he may stay and starve, for me; or be found by Roundheads and hanged, for me! Up with the drawbridge, Giles! Surrender when called upon, and good-day!" So the captain pricked his horse up to a canter, and Master Purvis, with a wry face, for he hated riding, jogged behind him. No sooner were they well out of sight down the highway than young Richard Chester appeared on the scene from a little wood behind the old gray castle. When he reached the moat he found the drawbridge was drawn up, but at the same time perceived Giles the stableman's dark head through the latticed panes of the gate-house window. "What ho, there! Giles!" he shouted. No answer. "Giles!" again he shouted. No movement. Losing patience at the fourth repetition, he took up a pebble and flung it through the glass into the room. At this Giles came forth. "Let down the bridge, sirrah!" cried little Dick. "Not so, my young friend," answered the stableman. "I'm not your young friend," said Dick angrily. "Let down the bridge!" "Not so, my young enemy, then," Giles replied calmly. "I hold this castle for the King. Those who run away at twelve cannot return at one. Good-morning." He turned away. "Giles," Dick shouted, dancing on the moat-edge in his excitement, "I order you! I'm your master." "Ha, ha!" said Giles, "that is a good jest, my little one," and he stepped back. "I'm Sir Richard Chester, and the castle's mine!" Dick cried. "Come and take it then, my man," said Giles, and he went back into the gate-house, and shut the door. Prayers, entreaties, threats, explanations passed across the moat to unheeding ears. Dick at last, tired out, sat down and cried. Then, stung by the thought that Giles the stableman watched and laughed, he sprang up, pulled off his coat and shoes, plunged into the deep moat, and swam across. CHAPTER II CAPTAIN OF DENT