"Then I'd save the powder and bullet, sir, and pitch him into the moat, same as the enemy did a lot of our chaps--all them as didn't jump--but they all got safe over, I suppose." Roy began to walk up and down with his companion, passing the other prisoners from time to time on the wide bench in the corner; while old Jenk sat on the mossy stone steps at the foot of the sun-dial in the middle of the court, one arm nursing his sword upon his knees, the other embracing the lichen-covered pedestal against which he rested his head-- no bad representation of old Father Time taking a nap. "Wish I could sleep like he does," growled Ben. "Nothing to do. Won't let me help any way. Tried to have a go in the armoury, but that sergeant as went through the rat's hole with us grinned at me and turned me out. Pah! I hate him! He's reg'lar took my job out o' my hands." "Patience, patience, Ben," said Roy. "Don't believe there's any o' that stuff left in the castle, Master Roy. What do you think they're doing?" "I don't know. What?" "Got big stones and mortar down in the hole in three places, ready to build it up. Done it by now, perhaps." "How do you know?" "Sergeant told me. Grinned at me and said they didn't mean to have any one go out that way, nor yet come in at twelve o' clock at night." "Indeed!" said Roy, to whom this news was troublous, interfering as it did with sundry misty notions in which he had indulged about retaking the castle, or all making their escape. "Yes, sir; that general aren't a bit of a fool. Wouldn't be at all a bad officer, if he was on the right side. That other chap wouldn't be a bad sort o' sergeant either, if he knowed his duty to his king and country. But there's going to be a fight some day 'twix' him and me." "Nonsense! While we are prisoners we must behave ourselves, Ben." "Oh, must we, sir? What call's he got to get grinning at me? I'll make him grin the wrong side of his mouth if he don't look out." "Yes; you are getting rusty, Ben," said Roy, merrily. "Then why don't you make some plan, sir?" whispered the old sergeant in an earnest whisper. "Let's make a bold stroke for it, and retake the castle. Think of what your father would say if you did. Why, if the king was to hear of it, he'd be that pleased, he'd send for you to the palace and make a knight of you at once." "Poor king!" said Roy, sadly. "Perhaps by this time he has no palace to call his own." "And he won't have, unless some of us shows we've got the right stuff left in us." At that moment they were passing the sun-dial, and old Jenk started into wakefulness, rose, shaded his eyes, and stared at Roy. "That you, sir?" "Yes, Jenk." "So it be. How are you, Master Roy--how are you? I've been thinking a deal about you, sir. Don't you be downhearted; just wait a bit, and you'll see." "See--see what, Jenk?" The old man shook his head and smiled in a cunning fashion.