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digesting in his mind。 It was the formation of a secret order； calling
themselves the 〃Knights of the Rose；〃 their meeting…place to be the chapel
of the Brutus Tower； and their object to be the righting of wrongs； 〃as
they；〃 said Myles； of Arthur his Round…table did right wrongs。〃
〃But； prithee； what wrongs are there to right in this place？〃 quoth
Gascoyne； after listening intently to the plan which Myles set forth。
〃Why； first of all； this；〃 said Myles； clinching his fists； as he had a
habit of doing when anything stirred him deeply； 〃that we set those vile
bachelors to their right place； and that is； that they be no longer our
masters； but our fellows。〃
Gascoyne shook his head。 He hated clashing and conflict above all
things； and was for peace。 Why should they thus rush to thrust themselves
into trouble？ Let matters abide as they were a little longer； surely life was
pleasant enough without turning it all topsy…turvy。 Then； with a sort of
indignation； why should Myles； who had only come among them a month；
take such service more to heart than they who had endured it for years？
And； finally； with the hopefulness of so many of the rest of us； he advised
Myles to let matters alone； and they would right themselves in time。
But Myles's mind was determined； his active spirit could not brook
resting passively under a wrong； he would endure no longer； and now or
never they must make their stand。
〃But look thee； Myles Falworth；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃all this is not to be
done withouten fighting shrewdly。 Wilt thou take that fighting upon thine
own self？ As for me； I tell thee I love it not。〃
〃Why； aye；〃 said Myles； 〃I ask no man to do what I will not do
myself。〃
Gascoyne shrugged his shoulders。 〃So be it；〃 said he。 〃An thou hast
appetite to run thy head against hard knocks； do it i' mercy's name！ I for
one will stand thee back while thou art taking thy raps。〃
There was a spirit of drollery in Gascoyne's speech that rubbed against
Myles's earnestness。
〃Out upon it！〃 cried he； his patience giving way。 〃Seest not that I am in
serious earnest？ Why then dost thou still jest like Mad Noll； my Lord's
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fool？ An thou wilt not lend me thine aid in this matter； say so and ha' done
with it； and I will bethink me of somewhere else to turn。〃
Then Gascoyne yielded at once； as he always did when his friend lost
his temper； and having once assented to it； entered into the scheme heart
and soul。 Three other ladsone of them that tall thin squire Edmund
Wilkes； before spoken of were sounded upon the subject。 They also
entered into the plan of the secret organization with an enthusiasm which
might perhaps not have been quite so glowing had they realized how very
soon Myles designed embarking upon active practical operations。 One day
Myles and Gascoyne showed them the strange things that they had
discovered in the old towerthe inner staircases； the winding passage…
ways； the queer niches and cupboard； and the black shaft of a well that
pierced down into the solid wall； and whence； perhaps； the old castle folk
had one time drawn their supply of water in time of siege； and with every
new wonder of the marvellous place the enthusiasm of the three recruits
rose higher and higher。 They rummaged through the lumber pile in the
great circular room as Myles and Gascoyne had done； and at last； tired out；
they ascended to the airy chapel； and there sat cooling themselves in the
rustling freshness of the breeze that came blowing briskly in through the
arched windows。
It was then and there that the five discussed and finally determined
upon the detailed plans of their organization； canvassing the names of the
squirehood； and selecting from it a sufficient number of bold and daring
spirits to make up a roll of twenty names in all。
Gascoyne had； as I said； entered into the matter with spirit； and
perhaps it was owing more to him than to any other that the project caught
its delightful flavor of romance。
〃Perchance；〃 said he； as the five lads lay in the rustling stillness
through which sounded the monotonous and ceaseless cooing of the
pigeons 〃perchance there may be dwarfs and giants and dragons and
enchanters and evil knights and what not even nowadays。 And who knows
but that if we Knights of the Rose hold together we may go forth into the
world； and do battle with them； and save beautiful ladies； and have tales
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and gestes written about us as they are writ about the Seven Champions
and Arthur his Round…table。〃
Perhaps Myles； who lay silently listening to all that was said； was the
only one who looked upon the scheme at all in the light of real utility； but I
think that even with him the fun of the matter outweighed the serious part
of the business。
So it was that the Sacred Order of the Twenty Knights of the Rose
came to be initiated。 They appointed a code of secret passwords and
countersigns which were very difficult to remember； and which were only
used when they might excite the curiosity of the other and uninitiated boys
by their mysterious sound。 They elected Myles as their Grand High
Commander； and held secret meetings in the ancient tower； where many
mysteries were soberly enacted。
Of course in a day or two all the body of squires knew nearly
everything concerning the Knights of the Rose； and of their secret
meetings in the old tower。 The lucky twenty were the objects of envy of all
not so fortunate as to be included in this number； and there was a marked
air of secrecy about everything they did that appealed to every romantic
notion of the youngsters looking on。 What was the stormy outcome of it
all is now presently to be told。
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CHAPTER 12
Thus it was that Myles； with an eye to open war with the bachelors；
gathered a following to his support。 It was some little while before matters
were brought to a crisisa week or ten days。 Perhaps even Myles had no
great desire to hasten matters。 He knew that whenever war was declared；
he himself would have to bear the brunt of the battle； and even the bravest
man hesitates before deliberately thrusting himself into a fight。
One morning Myles and Gascoyne and Wilkes sat under the shade of
two trees； between which was a board nailed to the trunks； making a rude
benchalways a favorite lounging…place for the lads in idle moments。
Myles was polishing his bascinet with lard and wood…ashes； rubbing the
metal with a piece of leather； and wiping it clean with a fustian rag。 The
other two； who had just been relieved from household duty； lay at length
idly looking on。 Just then one of the smaller pages； a boy of twelve or
thirteen； by name Robin Ingoldsby； crossed the court。 He had been crying；
his face was red and blubbered； and his body was still shaken with
convulsive sniffs。
Myles looked up。 〃Come hither； Robin；〃 he called from where he sat。
〃What is to do？〃
The little fellow came slowly up to where the three rested in the shade。
〃Mowbray beat me with a strap；〃 said he； rubbing his sleeve across his
eyes； and catching his breath at the recollection。
〃Beat thee； didst say？〃 said Myles； drawing his brows together。 〃Why
did he beat thee？〃
〃Because；〃 said Robin； 〃I tarried overlong in fetching a pot of beer
from the buttery for him and Wyatt。〃 Then； with a boy's sudden and easy
quickness in forgetting past troubles； 〃Tell me； Falworth；〃 said he； 〃when
wilt thou give me that knife thou promised methe one thou break the
blade of yesterday？〃
〃I know not；〃 said Myles； bluntly； vexed that the boy did not take the
disgrace of his beating more to heart。 〃Some time soon； mayhap。 Me