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fight single…handed against the commands of a dozen lads all older and
mightier than thou？〃
〃I know not；〃 said Myles； 〃but were they an hundred； instead of
thirteen； they should not make me serve them。〃
〃Thou art a fool！〃 said the old knight； smiling faintly； 〃for that be'st not
courage； but folly。 When one setteth about righting a wrong； one driveth
not full head against it； for in so doing one getteth naught but hard knocks。
Nay； go deftly about it； and then； when the time is ripe； strike the blow。
Now our beloved King Henry； when he was the Earl of Derby； what could
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he have gained had he stood so against the old King Richard； brooking the
King face to face？ I tell thee he would have been knocked on the head as
thou wert like to have been this day。 Now were I thee； and had to fight a
fight against odds； I would first get me friends behind me； and then〃 He
stopped short； but Myles understood him well enough。
〃Sir；〃 said he； with a gulp； 〃I do thank thee for thy friendship； and ask
thy pardon for doing as I did anon。〃
〃I grant thee pardon；〃 said the knight； 〃but tell thee plainly； an thou
dost face me so again； I will truly send thee to the black cell for a week。
Now get thee away。〃
All the other lads were gone when Myles came forth； save only the
faithful Gascoyne； who sacrificed his bath that day to stay with his friend；
and perhaps that little act of self…denial moved Myles more than many a
great thing might have done。
〃It was right kind of thee； Francis；〃 said he； laying his hand
affectionately on his friend's shoulder。 〃I know not why thou lovest me
so。〃
〃Why； for one thing； this matter；〃 answered his friend； 〃because
methinks thou art the best fighter and the bravest one of all of us squires。〃
Myles laughed。 Nevertheless Gascoyne's words were a soothing balm
for much that had happened that day。 〃I will fight me no more just now；〃
said he； and then he told his friend all that Sir James had advised about
biding his time。
Gascoyne blew a long whistle。 〃Beshrew me！〃 quoth he； 〃but methinks
old Bruin is on thy side of the quarrel； Myles。 An that be so； I am with thee
also； and others that I can name as well。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Myles。 〃Then am I content to abide the time when we
may become strong enough to stand against them。〃
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CHAPTER 10
Perhaps therE is nothing more delightful in the romance of boyhood
than the finding of some secret hiding…place whither a body may creep
away from the bustle of the world's life； to nestle in quietness for an hour
or two。 More especially is such delightful if it happen that； by peeping
from out it； one may look down upon the bustling matters of busy every…
day life； while one lies snugly hidden away unseen by any； as though one
were in some strange invisible world of one's own。
Such a hiding…place as would have filled the heart of almost any boy
with sweet delight Myles and Gascoyne found one summer afternoon。
They called it their Eyry； and the name suited well for the roosting…place
of the young hawks that rested in its windy stillness； looking down upon
the shifting castle life in the courts below。
Behind the north stable； a great； long； rambling building； thick…walled；
and black with age； lay an older part of the castle than that peopled by the
better class of lifea cluster of great thick walls； rudely but strongly built；
now the dwelling…place of stable…lads and hinds； swine and poultry。 From
one part of these ancient walls； and fronting an inner court of the castle；
arose a tall； circular； heavy…buttressed tower； considerably higher than the
other buildings； and so mantled with a dense growth of aged ivy as to
stand a shaft of solid green。 Above its crumbling crown circled hundreds
of pigeons； white and pied； clapping and clattering in noisy flight through
the sunny air。 Several windows； some closed with shutters； peeped here
and there from out the leaves； and near the top of the pile was a row of
arched openings； as though of a balcony or an airy gallery。
Myles had more than once felt an idle curiosity about this tower； and
one day； as he and Gascoyne sat together； he pointed his finger and said；
〃What is yon place？〃
〃That；〃 answered Gascoyne； looking over his shoulder〃that they call
Brutus Tower； for why they do say that Brutus he built it when he came
hither to Britain。 I believe not the tale mine own self； ne'theless； it is
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marvellous ancient； and old Robin…the…Fletcher telleth me that there be
stairways built in the wall and passage…ways； and a maze wherein a body
may get lost； an he know not the way aright； and never see the blessed
light of day again。〃
〃Marry；〃 said Myles； 〃those same be strange sayings。 Who liveth there
now？〃
〃No one liveth there；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃saving only some of the stable
villains； and that half… witted goose…herd who flung stones at us yesterday
when we mocked him down in the paddock。 He and his wife and those
others dwell in the vaults beneath； like rabbits in any warren。 No one else
hath lived there since Earl Robert's day； which belike was an hundred
years agone。 The story goeth that Earl Robert's brotheror step… brother
was murdered there； and some men say by the Earl himself。 Sin that day it
hath been tight shut。〃
Myles stared at the tower for a while in silence。 〃It is a strange…
seeming place from without；〃 said he； at last； 〃and mayhap it may be even
more strange inside。 Hast ever been within； Francis？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃said I not it hath been fast locked since Earl
Robert's day？〃
〃By'r Lady；〃 said Myles； 〃an I had lived here in this place so long as
thou； I wot I would have been within it ere this。〃
〃Beshrew me；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃but I have never thought of such a
matter。〃 He turned and looked at the tall crown rising into the warm
sunlight with a new interest； for the thought of entering it smacked
pleasantly of adventure。 〃How wouldst thou set about getting within？〃
said he； presently。
〃Why； look；〃 said Myles； 〃seest thou not yon hole in the ivy branches？
Methinks there is a window at that place。 An I mistake not； it is in reach of
the stable eaves。 A body might come up by the fagot pile to the roof of the
hen…house； and then by the long stable to the north stable； and so to that
hole。〃
Gascoyne looked thoughtfully at the Brutus Tower； and then suddenly
inquired； 〃Wouldst go there？〃
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〃Aye；〃 said Myles； briefly。
〃So be it。 Lead thou the way in the venture； I will follow after thee；〃
said Gascoyne。
As Myles had said； the climbing from roof to roof was a matter easy
enough to an active pair of lads like themselves； but when； by…and…by； they
reached the wall of the tower itself； they found the hidden window much
higher from the roof than they had judged from belowperhaps ten or
twelve feetand it was； besides； beyond the eaves and out of their reach。
Myles looked up and looked down。 Above was the bushy thickness of
the ivy； the branches as thick as a woman's wrist； knotted and intertwined；
below was the stone pavement of a narrow inner court between two of the
stable buildings。
〃Methinks I can climb to yon place；〃 said he。
〃Thou'lt break thy neck an thou tryest；〃 said Gascoyne； hastily。
〃Nay；〃 quoth Myles； 〃I trust not； but break or make； we get not there
without trying。 So here goeth for the venture。〃
〃Thou art a hare…brained knave as ever drew breath of life；〃 quoth
Gascoyne； 〃and will cause me to come to grief some of these fine days。
Ne'theless； an thou be Jack Fool and lead the way； go； and I will be Tom
Fool and follow anon。 If thy neck is worth so little； mine is worth no
more。〃
It was indeed a p