"Well, he ought to bear that," said Roy, giving the door a good rattle, and then tapping loudly. "One would think so, sir; but he don't seem to have his ears very wide open, or else he's too much scared to stir." "Master Pawson! Master Pawson!" cried Roy, loudly now; and he once more rattled the door. "How are you?" "Fast as a church, sir," said Ben; "and I wouldn't rattle no more, because you'll be having the sentry up atop after us. Better go and speak to him, or he'll be raising the guard." Ben went up on the winding stair, and spoke to the sentry, who challenged him as he reached the top, and was much relieved on hearing his sergeant's voice. "Didn't know what to make of it," he said; "and I should have fired, only my piece wouldn't go off." "Well, let this be a lesson to you, my lad, to keep your firelock in order." "Yes, sergeant; I will in future." "We might have been the enemy coming. See any more of that light, or hear any more noise over yonder?" "No, nothing." "Not heard nothing from Master Pawson, I suppose?" "Not since he came up and spoke to me before he went to bed. Said his head was queer or something--spoke mighty pleasant, and that he was sorry for me who had to watch all night." "Well?" "That was all; only I said I was sorry for him having such a bad head." Ben went down to where Roy was waiting in the secretary's door-way. "Can't wake him, Ben. Come along; I am tired now." "Feel as if an hour's sleep wouldn't do me much harm, sir," said the old soldier; and they went on along the corridor, whose windows looked out upon the pleasaunce. "Master Pawson's in the right of it. Once a man's well asleep, it's a woundy, tiresome thing to be wakened up. Good-night, sir." "Good-morning, you mean, Ben," said Roy, laughing. "Oh, I calls it all night till the sun's up again, sir. You and me'll have to try the old ruins, I s'pose, though I don't expect we shall find anything there." Roy went straight to his room, half undressed, and threw himself upon the bed, to begin dreaming directly that he had discovered the entrance to the secret passage at the other end, but it was so blocked up with stones and tree-roots that there was no way in, and would not be until he had persuaded his mother to do away with the garden, cut down the trees, and turn the place back into a regular court-yard such as old Ben wished. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. FARMER RAYNES BRINGS NEWS. It was the loud blast of a trumpet which roused Roy from his slumbers to find that it was a gloriously clear morning, and that the call was bringing the little garrison together for the early parade. The trumpeter was the youngest of the three men from his father's regiment, and consequently the call rang out in the true martial style, echoing through the garden court, and sounding exhilarating to the boy as he sprang off his bed and began to dress.