“Trust me. Ah, you’ve found the secret of the ghosts. The haunted chapel is haunted no more, save by spirits in flesh and blood! Good! But this isn’t work. Come with me and give me your help. We’ll very soon have our men ready for duty.” Everything worked favorably. The men wanted were found without difficulty; and the stout artisans and laborers of the village, when they had been told of the business on hand, were not only willing but eager to join. In little more than half an hour from the time of their setting forth the work was done. Tisdale had selected the five men who were to accompany him, while his lieutenant--Martin O’Brien--a faithful and reliable officer, at the head of four-and-twenty more, all well armed, was to proceed up the face of the Crag--not to go to the cave--but to stop at a point where they would be sure to intercept any who should attempt to escape from the cave in that direction. Thus, Percy believed, they would be able to capture the whole party--all of the pirates whom the chief had called to his assistance--and he thought there might be twelve to fifteen of them. When these arrangements had been perfected, and they were sure that O’Brien understood his part exactly, Percy and the constable, with the five helpers--strong, experienced officers, every one--took their way to the castle, where they found the earl anxiously waiting for intelligence. When the old nobleman had heard the story, when he knew that his darling had been found, or the same as found, and he was assured that he should ere long behold her, when it had all been made clear to him, his joy was beyond his power of language to express it. “Percy! Percy! My noble boy!” he cried, regarding the youth with loving trustful looks, “you must take the lead. You know all about it. You are the man. I am sure Mr. Tisdale will not be offended.” “Pooh! pooh! Maitland is the man to lead, my lord. We all understand it.” “Let me give my humble help, as best I can,” said Percy, not at all discomposed by the encomiums thus passed upon him. “Where I can lead, be sure I will; and when I can follow I will do so with all my heart. And now, my lord, how many of your men are we to take with us?” “Here is Michael. He will muster them. There should be ten, at least.” “Twelve, my lord, counting me. Of course you’ll let me go.” “Yes, you may go. Now hurry and collect the men and get out the arms. Oh, do be expeditious!” Now was the time and the need when our hero showed the quality that was in him. Under his calm, quiet, prompt guidance, with a power of command natural to him, the force of the castle was mustered, armed, and organized in less than twenty minutes, and in half an hour after the arrival of himself and the constable at the castle the party, twenty in number, counting the earl, was ready to set forth. * * * * *