"True," said Giles. "On the great North Road, sitting in the ditch, starving. 'Want a job, my man?' said the captain. 'Want some food, my lord,' said I meekly. 'Hold my horse,' growled the captain, and went into an inn. At the end of half an hour he came out of the inn and asked me one or two questions. 'On what side was I?' 'On the road-side,' I answered. 'Did I want an easy job and much money?' 'Of course I did.' Followed a good meal at The Checkers, in the presence of two ugly Puritans, and then the captain's stirrup and a long trot hither." Dick listened with interest, half-forgetting his anger. "Why did you lie in the ditch starving, Giles?" he demanded. "Because," said Giles gravely, "had I lain in the middle of the road I should have been, by your leave, trodden on. And now, sir," he added, "let me tell you I am for the King, and I happen to know it was the King's will that this house should be held for him." "Yes," Dick cried, "word was sent us with the express order to keep the flag flying and hold out till relieved. Then comes news of my father's death, and Master Purvis was frightened. Then comes my cousin, Captain Dent, saying we must all quit, and he brings--" "Me," said Giles, "and he bids me shut up the house closely when he has gone, and surrender to the first Roundhead who knocks at the gate. Captain John Dent is a traitor." Dick started to his feet. "Giles," he cried, "what shall we do?" "When I saw you," said Giles, shaking his finger at him, "running away this morning, I thought you too were a traitor. I would have stood by the old place, and--" "Giles! I only ran away from my cousin. I'm here. I've come back. I hid so's to return." "Very good," said Giles. "Then we two will hang on here, and fly our old rag over the crop-ears of Puritans." Dick did not think to question the loyalty and devotion of the stableman. His plan was his plan; his intention jumped with his own. He had only been in the place a week; he was a stranger, a beggar a tramp from the road, a starving man out of a ditch, but there was something so gay, so fearless about him that young Dick was attracted. "For God and the King!" cried Giles, tossing his battered hat. "For God and the King!" Dick echoed proudly, and they shook hands. "We're well victualled, sir," said Giles, "and our walls will stand anything but cannon. You must know I heard a thing or two at The Checkers that led me to suppose the enemy may be here any moment." Dick gave a caper of delight. Fancy the glory! A castle to hold alone--almost alone! Sir Richard Chester, aged eleven, supported only by a stable-helper, held his castle for the King for--oh, weeks!--with incredible risks! Dick almost regretted the great stores of flour, of beer, of hams and cured pork, of preserves and wines at his command. He was almost ashamed of the thickness of his walls, for he was in comparative safety, and might dwell at his ease and laugh at his foes he thought.