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Fool and follow anon。 If thy neck is worth so little； mine is worth no
more。〃
It was indeed a perilous climb； but that special providence which
guards reckless lads befriended them； as it has thousands of their kind
before and since。 So； by climbing from one knotted； clinging stem to
another； they were presently seated snugly in the ivied niche in the
window。 It was barred from within by a crumbling shutter； the rusty
fastening of which； after some little effort upon the part of the two； gave
way； and entering the narrow opening； they found themselves in a small
triangular passage…way； from which a steep flight of stone steps led down
through a hollow in the massive wall to the room below。
At the bottom of the steps was a heavy oaken door； which stood ajar；
hanging upon a single rusty hinge； and from the room within a dull； gray
light glimmered faintly。 Myles pushed the door farther open； it creaked
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and grated horribly on its rusty hinge； and； as in instant answer to the
discordant shriek； came a faint piping squeaking； a rustling and a pattering
of soft footsteps。
〃The ghosts！〃 cried Gascoyne； in a quavering whisper； and for a
moment Myles felt the chill of goose…flesh creep up and down his spine。
But the next moment he laughed。
〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃they be rats。 Look at yon fellow； Francis！ Be'st as big
as Mother Joan's kitten。 Give me that stone。〃 He flung it at the rat； and it
flew clattering across the floor。 There was another pattering rustle of
hundreds of feet； and then a breathless silence。
The boys stood looking around them； and a strange enough sight it was。
The room was a perfect circle of about twenty feet across； and was piled
high with an indistinguishable mass of lumberrude tables； ruder chairs；
ancient chests； bits and remnants of cloth and sacking and leather； old
helmets and pieces of armor of a by…gone time； broken spears and pole…
axes； pots and pans and kitchen furniture of all sorts and kinds。
A straight beam of sunlight fell through a broken shutter like a bar of
gold； and fell upon the floor in a long streak of dazzling light that
illuminated the whole room with a yellow glow。
〃By 'r Lady！〃 said Gascoyne at last； in a hushed voice； 〃here is Father
Time's garret for sure。 Didst ever see the like； Myles？ Look at yon arbalist；
sure Brutus himself used such an one！〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃but look at this saddle。 Marry； here be'st a rat's
nest in it。〃
Clouds of dust rose as they rummaged among the mouldering mass；
setting them coughing and sneezing。 Now and then a great gray rat would
shoot out beneath their very feet； and disappear； like a sudden shadow； into
some hole or cranny in the wall。
〃Come；〃 said Myles at last； brushing the dust from his jacket； 〃an we
tarry here longer we will have chance to see no other sights； the sun is
falling low。〃
An arched stair…way upon the opposite side of the room from which
they had entered wound upward through the wall； the stone steps being
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lighted by narrow slits of windows cut through the massive masonry。
Above the room they had just left was another of the same shape and size；
but with an oak floor； sagging and rising into hollows and hills； where the
joist had rotted away beneath。 It was bare and empty； and not even a rat
was to be seen。 Above was another room； above that； another； all the
passages and stairways which connected the one story with the other being
built in the wall； which was； where solid； perhaps fifteen feet thick。
From the third floor a straight flight of steps led upward to a closed
door； from the other side of which shone the dazzling brightness of
sunlight； and whence came a strange noisea soft rustling； a melodious
murmur。 The boys put their shoulders against the door； which was fastened；
and pushed with might and mainonce； twice； suddenly the lock gave way；
and out they pitched headlong into a blaze of sunlight。 A deafening
clapping and uproar sounded in their ears； and scores of pigeons； suddenly
disturbed； rose in stormy flight。
They sat up and looked around them in silent wonder。 They were in a
bower of leafy green。 It was the top story of the tower； the roof of which
had crumbled and toppled in； leaving it open to the sky； with only here and
there a slanting beam or two supporting a portion of the tiled roof；
affording shelter for the nests of the pigeons crowded closely together。
Over everything the ivy had grown in a mantling sheeta net…work of
shimmering green； through which the sunlight fell flickering。
〃This passeth wonder；〃 said Gascoyne； at last breaking the silence。
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； 〃I did never see the like in all my life。〃 Then；
〃Look； yonder is a room beyond； let us see what it is； Francis。〃
Entering an arched door…way； the two found themselves in a beautiful
little vaulted chapel； about eighteen feet long and twelve or fifteen wide。 It
comprised the crown of one of the large massive buttresses； and from it
opened the row of arched windows which could be seen from below
through the green shimmering of the ivy leaves。 The boys pushed aside the
trailing tendrils and looked out and down。 The whole castle lay spread
below them； with the busy people unconsciously intent upon the matters of
their daily work。 They could see the gardener； with bowed back； patiently
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working among the flowers in the garden； the stable…boys below grooming
the horses； a bevy of ladies in the privy garden playing at shuttlecock with
battledoors of wood； a group of gentlemen walking up and down in front
of the Earl's house。 They could see the household servants hurrying hither
and thither； two little scullions at fisticuffs； and a kitchen girl standing in
the door…way scratching her frowzy head。
It was all like a puppetshow of real life； each acting unconsciously a
part in the play。 The cool wind came in through the rustling leaves and
fanned their cheeks； hot with the climb up the winding stair…way。
〃We will call it our Eyry；〃 said Gascoyne 〃and we will be the hawks
that live here。〃 And that was how it got its name。
The next day Myles had the armorer make him a score of large spikes；
which he and Gascoyne drove between the ivy branches and into the
cement of the wall； and so made a safe passageway by which to reach the
window niche in the wall。
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CHAPTER 11
THE TWO friends kept the secret of the Eyry to themselves for a little
while； now and then visiting the old tower to rummage among the lumber
stored in the lower room； or to loiter away the afternoon in the windy
solitudes of the upper heights。 And in that little time； when the ancient
keep was to them a small world unknown to any but themselvesa world
far away above all the dull matters of every…day lifethey talked of many
things that might else never have been known to one another。 Mostly they
spoke the crude romantic thoughts and desires of boyhood's timechaff
thrown to the wind； in which； however； lay a few stray seeds； fated to fall
to good earth； and to ripen to fruition in manhood's day。
In the intimate talks of that time Myles imparted something of his
honest solidity to Gascoyne's somewhat weathercock nature； and to
Myles's ruder and more uncouth character Gascoyne lent a tone of his
gentler manners； learned in his pagehood service as attendant upon the
Countess and her ladies。
In other things； also； the character and experience of the one lad
helped to sup