"Let's hit while the iron's hot; sir, eh? You and I will go round and visit all the sentinels to-night, and then, as we shall have a lantern, we'll begin." "Where?" "Down under the north-west tower, sir." "And ask Master Pawson to go with us?" "Nay, sir; we'll keep it all to ourselves." "But he will hear us about the steps, and opening and shutting doors." "But he mustn't, sir. I'll oil all the locks and the keys I have, and we must smuggle our light under a big cloak. No, sir, we don't want Master Pawson with us; let him study his chirurgery and sewing of cuts, and stopping up bullet-holes. That'll do for him. This is a job for the castellan and his head-sergeant, sir; and, if you'll take my advice, that's the order for the night." "Very well, Ben; that is the order for the night." "One word, sir. How is my lady getting on with the flag? That old one is so tender like, I'm afraid it'll blow to pieces first time it's hoisted." "Getting on splendidly." "Big as the old one, sir?" "Half as big again, Ben." "That'll do, sir. I believe in a big flag. It gives the men courage, and bullies the enemy. Now I really do begin to feel as if I could breathe." CHAPTER SIXTEEN. THE PASSAGE THAT IS TOO SECRET. "Going, Roy?" said Lady Royland to her son, as he rose from his seat in the library that night about an hour after Master Pawson had gone to his room, retiring early on the plea of a bad headache. "Yes, mother; I'm going my rounds." Lady Royland sighed. "It seems very hard on you, my boy--all this work and watching." "Oh, I don't mind," said the lad, smiling; "I've got used to it already. It makes everything go so regularly, and I feel sure that I have done everything to make the place safe." "But it is hard upon the sentries, who, but for this, would be peacefully sleeping in their beds." "Do us all good, mother. Good-night." There was an affectionate embrace, and Roy went to his room, buckled on his sword, put on his helmet, threw a large cloak over his shoulders, and then went down to the guard-room door in the great lower gate-way, to be challenged at once, and forced to give the word. A faint light shone out from the open door upon the military figure on duty, and Roy recognised in him one of the men from the mill, completely transformed from the heavy plodding fellow who had come in to take service. But the challenge had brought out the old sergeant, also in a cloak, although it was a hot night, and within it he swung a lighted lantern. The drawbridge was up and the portcullis down, making the entrance look black and strange, and shutting off the outer gate, from which the day guard was withdrawn, though this had not been accomplished without trouble and persuasion, for old Jenkin had protested.