Sliding off his horse, Hugh strode briskly into the big room. At one side a long table had been hastily set forth, at which a squad of Turner’s men were making a nondescript meal, but the rest of the hall was littered with arms and accoutrements that the troopers were still fetching in noisily; they must have stripped the manor house of every warlike furnishing. “Yes, the work is near done, and we can be off,” Strangwayes said low to Hugh. “Sure, I’m not the man will be sorry. Did you know, my lad, there’s a harder thing than storming a town, and that’s to keep your troop from stealing the town after you’ve taken it? As ’tis a sort of family matter Captain Gwyeth is loath to have this house plundered, so we’ve done our best. But it’s well Leveson’s thieves have been used in clearing the stable; our own men have held the house, and they are the best and most obedient in the regiment. I’ve knocked down one or two of them, and put three under arrest, and promised a few floggings, but barring that they’ve been good as lambs and not stole from the house more than each man can hide in his pockets. Trust them? I’d trust my troop anywhere, that I had my eyes on it,” he concluded lugubriously. “But now I’m going to risk taking one eye off them and leave Griffith to see the spoils loaded in the wagons, while I tie up your hurts again.” Accordingly, Strangwayes sent men running for water and bandages, and, putting Hugh on a bench against the wall, was dressing his head and arm, when Captain Gwyeth came in. Hugh caught sight of him as he paused an instant in the doorway, and at the changed expression of the man’s face a sudden fear struck him, for it came home to him that, though the captain forgave the son who had defied him, he might never forgive the son’s friend who had threatened to bar the door upon him. It was a new thought, and it checked Hugh’s first impulsive movement to rise to meet his father; instead he moved a bit nearer Dick. There was an instant’s dangerous silence, then Master Frank, nodding half-asleep at Hugh’s side, perceived Captain Gwyeth and ran to him. “Why, this is a lucky meeting,” he cried, leading the captain over to the bench. “And did I not tell you, sir, when once you were acquainted with Hugh, he was a right friendly, generous fellow for all his stubborn face?” That made Dick turn and come to his feet, stiff and respectful. “Maybe ’twill please you look to Hugh’s hurt now, sir,” he said, with a slight bow. “Nay, you’ve looked to his hurts before this, Lieutenant,” the captain said slowly. “You’ve the right to do so now.” He hesitated, then held out his hand, and Strangwayes took it.