"Now, then, if you value your life," snarled Pawson in the boy's ear, "order those fools to come out before we blow them to pieces with a keg of powder. Do you hear? Come forward and speak!" Roy felt a fierce desire to spit in the traitor's face, but he mastered himself and stepped forward. "Ah, you've come to your senses, then," said Pawson. "Lucky for you, my popinjay. Now, then, tell them to surrender." "Why?" said Roy, spitefully. "They don't know what it means." "Speak!" cried Pawson; and he pricked the lad with the point of his sword. Roy in those terrible moments had to fight hard to be dignified, as he felt he ought to be, before the enemy; but the desire was strong upon him, when he felt a slight prick in the side from the keen point of the sword, to turn round and kick his aggressor with all his might. Then he spoke. "Sergeant Martlet, corporal, Farmer Raynes, all of you, I'm a prisoner, and can't help myself. There are two or three hundred men here. Can you hear me?" "Ay, ay, sir; go on," cried Ben. "They bid me tell you to surrender. What do you say?" "Let 'em come and make us. God save her ladyship and the king!" "Hurrah!" came rolling back from nearly a dozen lusty throats, and was followed by a shout from Ben. "Get back, Master Roy; we're going to fire." "Then fire," cried Roy. "Never mind me now." Another cheer followed this; and there was a rattling noise which Roy interpreted, for he knew that the men in the guard-room had seized the pikes from the rack, and that a bristling hedge of steel was being formed in the door-way. Just then the officer in command stepped forward. "Silence there!" he cried, in a loud clear voice. "Listen to me, my men. The castle is taken, and I have four hundred men here. You are the only defenders left.--Sergeant Martlet, I suppose you are an old soldier, and if so, you know this boy's words are madness. Enough men have perished, and I should be sorry to add your party to those who have made so brave a defence. Come, you have all done your duty, and your case is hopeless; surrender, and you shall suffer no harm." "When my captain tells me--not before." "Well spoken, and like a brave man," said the officer; and he turned to Roy. "Now, captain," he said, and there was a touch of sarcasm in his voice, "you don't want those stout fellows shot down, or smothered like rats in their holes. Tell them to give up their arms and come out." "To a set of cowards who attacked us as you did with the help of that treacherous dog!" cried Roy, passionately. "No!" "Hurrah!" was shouted from the guard-room door and Farmer Raynes roared out: "Well said, Master Roy; we'll beat 'em yet." "Take that boy away," cried the officer; and Roy was dragged to one side, where he heard the speaker again bid the party surrender; but only received a shout of defiance in reply.