Tudor Jenks

“ All was in order, for Lady Mortimer was a good chatelaine, and by the aid of her servitors had faithfully carried out her husband's instructions to keep the stronghold always ready for attack.
"In these times," he had said, "the attack often comes before the herald; and the only safety is in leaving nothing to be done on the arrival of the enemy. A well-ruled castle should need only to hoist its draw and drop its portcullis in the face of a besieger." ”

“ He has plenty of money, for he is little better than a robber-baron. Merchants go miles about rather than come within his reach, but nevertheless he now and then falls upon a pack-train, and he has become wealthy."
"How many men can he get together?" Hugh asked,—"given a few months for gathering them?"
"But few decent men," Edgar replied, "but many rogues. Hope of plunder will bring together hundreds of the fighting-men now out of employment. He has about him perhaps two hundred, and should be able to get enough to raise his force to at least five hundred, if he can wait long enough." ”

“ As he went, he pointed out the strength and weakness of every part of the castle, showing which towers were most important to the defense, where the strongest force could be used to most advantage, and where a weaker body of men could make good their position against even a superior force. ”

“ When Luke had finished, Guy de Ferrers exclaimed:
"Luke, we will try it; and you shall have a double handful of good gold pieces if the enterprise succeeds. Then, if I take the castle, you shall be cared for so long as you live. If it fails, we can go back to the other method without loss."
Edgar and Amabel were both fond of hawking, and they each owned birds of which they were especially proud. During the recent busy times at the castle the hawks had been neglected, but now their owners began taking them out again. ”

“ But by this time even the far-sighted veteran Hugh of Cambray could suggest no further work, and the danger of attack had passed from the minds of the people of the household. They returned to their old occupations. There was a small village at the foot of the hill and many of the soldiers had families who lived in its little huts. Harvest time had come, and the grain was so abundant that every hand was employed in getting it into the barns, and there were many merry-makings because the crop was so plentiful. ”

“ When it had passed inspection, all the pieces were carefully numbered so it could be put together again quickly, and then it was stored away in the vaults of the castle.
Lady Mortimer and Amabel Manners were equally busy at the household affairs. Seeing the men all at work, they decided to be equally industrious in their own vocations. They cooked meat, made cakes of bread, smoked bacon, dried beef and preserved it in sugar, and saw that all stores of herbs, balsams, and spices were renewed. ”

“ The expeditions were made on horseback, often taking the hunters miles from home, and Guy de Ferrers knew of these outings through his spies. Luke had suggested that it would not be at all difficult to send a few horsemen into the woods near one of the quarry-grounds where the young people went to hunt, and capture them. With Edgar and Amabel in their hands, it might be possible to treat with Lady Mortimer, demanding a surrender of the castle as the price of safety for these hostages. ”

“ We must teach the young to replace the old."
There is no arguing with one who is able to enforce his will, and the only favor Francis Mortimer could gain was leave to make a short farewell visit to his castle on the Ouse, and to remain a week, making ready for an absence that might last several years.
Taking only half a dozen soldiers, Mortimer went home as speedily as his strong road horse could take him, and arrived at the great gate one evening just as the portcullis was about to be lowered. ”

“ Edgar saw that his purpose was accomplished. The soldier's face had lost its listless expression, and he was listening eagerly. In this, Edgar was following the baron's advice. "After I am gone," he had said, "you will find old Hugh like an old hunting-dog kept indoors when the horn is blown. I wish you to go to him and interest him in talk about the castle. He is a valuable man, and it is important to gain his good-will ”

“ Then setting the end against his foot he strung it, snapping the cord over the horn so that it rang with a musical twang.
"This," he said, "is more suited to the nerveless hand of a worn-out warrior, my lady." ”