Roy turned to recross the bridge, feeling as if, in spite of all, this was part of a dream, when something on high began to flutter over the great gate tower, and glancing up, it was to see there in front, gazing down at them as she leaned forward in one of the embrasures, Lady Royland. "What is it to be, Roy?" she cried, as he came closer. "Peace or war?" "War!" he replied, sternly; and the sound seemed to be whispered in many tones through the great archway as the portcullis fell with its heavy clang and the drawbridge began to rise. CHAPTER TWENTY. WAR TO THE KNIFE. War to the knife without a doubt, for in the gathering gloom of the evening, as Roy went up to the top of the north-west tower, followed by Master Pawson, it was to see that mounted men were in a goodly body making a complete circuit of the castle, roughly marking out a line about half a mile in diameter, and at every hundred yards or so a couple of troopers were halted, and retained their posts. "Shutting us in, Master Pawson," said Roy, after watching the manoeuvre for some time. "Ah!" said the secretary, with a sigh; "they will patrol the country all round now, and stop communications with the outside." "Yes," said Roy, frowning; "and I suppose I must give up all hope of the men from the farm getting in." "Ah, yes! they are prisoners before this. So your poor father is looked upon as a rebel now." "Stop, Master Pawson," said Roy, hotly; "these words must not be spoken here." "I only meant them as the opinion of the other party, who presume to say the estate is confiscated." "My father acknowledges no other party. Confiscated! Why, this place has belonged to the Roylands from the days of the Plantagenets, Master Pawson. Let these people come and take it if they can." "Ah, yes! that's brave and true, Roy, brave and true. Then you do mean to fight?" "Yes, and you too," cried the boy. "You want to save my father's estate." "Oh, yes, I want to save the estate," said the secretary, eagerly. "Then do everything you can," cried Roy. "Yes, they will soon have formed a ring round the castle now! Well, let them keep their distance, for I shall give orders for the garrison to fire at any one who attempts to approach." "And how long do you hope to be able to hold out?" "As long as it is necessary," said Roy, proudly; "till my father comes with his men, and scatters all these people away." "To be sure, yes," said the secretary. "How proud he will be of you, Roy, when he knows all." Roy hurried down to join his lieutenant, whom he found humming a tune in the armoury, busy over some preparations by the light of a lamp. "You don't seem in very bad spirits, Ben," he said. "Bad spirits! What about, sir? Why, it's like the good old time when your father and I were young. Not so young as you, though! Well, sir, we've been thinking over our plans. They won't do anything yet--only shut us in. They're going to wait for more men and more artillery."