"He is a vainglorious boaster. Already he has played the turncoat, and, in spite of his brave words, I'll warrant he'll betray his trust and Chaloner, who holds Southsea Castle, is no better." Thereupon I told him of the message stealthily conveyed by the serving-man. "I would you had told me of this before, and I would have challenged the young pup on the spot. Nevertheless, I'll mark him well, and at the first sign of treachery I'll make him answer to the King with his life." A few days after our arrival in the beleaguered town, Colonel Firestone, who had been entrusted with the keeping of the postern by which we had entered, returned to our lodgings after dark with a look of intense excitement on his face. "You are both young, but active and fit to be trusted," he exclaimed. "Art willing to adventure your lives in a hazardous service?" We both assented. "Then, hearken! My doubts concerning Goring's lukewarmness and Chaloner's treachery are gaining ground. Did I not say that who holds the castle commands the town? Yet Chaloner has withdrawn most of his dragoons and quartered them in the town, where they are no better than common musketeers! In the castle there are left but twenty pikemen, five dragoons, and twenty musketeers, and, though the castle is likely to be attempted at any time, Chaloner comes nightly into the town to carouse with the Governor. Moreover, I saw him give a missive to the same man who acts as servant at Goring's house, and I feel certain that the man has left for the rebel lines." "Then what do you want us to do?" "I mean to return with Chaloner to the castle to-night, you accompanying us. Then, should the rebels attempt an escalade, I'll seize Chaloner if he play false, and hold the castle against them, should the garrison stand by me." "And if not?" "Then I'll slay the traitor with my own hands, and in the darkness we'll attempt a passage through the rebels' lines!" "And now," he continued, as he made ready his arms, "it wants but two hours to midnight, yet in that time much remains to be done. Let us be up and doing." "Yes," repeated Colonel Firestone, as he finished charging his pistols, "it is time for us to be up and doing." So saying, he led the way from the house, and, keeping well in the shadows, we traversed several side streets till we gained the Landport Gate, hard by the Town Mount. Thence, after a few whispered words with the guard, we passed through the gateway, crossed the moat, and were soon in the flat, open country that lies without the walls. A walk of less than half a mile brought us to a few deserted houses, standing hard by a ruined windmill, for at the commencement of the siege the inhabitants of Coleharbour, as this hamlet is called, had abandoned their homes and taken refuge in the town. 'Twas well for them that they did, for, being in the line of fire, the buildings had already suffered from the batteries of both forces.