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disgrace of his beating more to heart。 〃Some time soon； mayhap。 Me
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thinks thou shouldst think more of thy beating than of a broken knife。 Now
get thee gone to thy business。〃
The youngster lingered for a moment or two watching Myles at his
work。 〃What is that on the leather scrap； Falworth？〃 said he； curiously。
〃Lard and ashes；〃 said Myles； testily。 〃Get thee gone； I say； or I will
crack thy head for thee；〃 and he picked up a block of wood； with a
threatening gesture。
The youngster made a hideous grimace； and then scurried away；
ducking his head； lest in spite of Myles's well…known good…nature the
block should come whizzing after him。
〃Hear ye that now！〃 cried Myles； flinging down the block again and
turning to his two friends。 〃Beaten with straps because； forsooth； he would
not fetch and carry quickly enough to please the haste of these bachelors。
Oh； this passeth patience； and I for one will bear it no longer。〃
〃Nay； Myles；〃 said Gascoyne； soothingly； 〃the little imp is as lazy as a
dormouse and as mischievous as a monkey。 I'll warrant the hiding was his
due； and that more of the like would do him good。〃
〃Why； how dost thou talk； Francis！〃 said Myles； turning upon him
indignantly。 〃Thou knowest that thou likest to see the boy beaten no more
than I。〃 Then； after a meditative pause； 〃How many； think ye； we muster
of our company of the Rose today？〃
Wilkes looked doubtfully at Gascoyne。 〃There be only seventeen of us
here now；〃 said he at last。 〃Brinton and Lambourne are away to Roby
Castle in Lord George's train； and will not be back till Saturday next。 And
Watt Newton is in the infirmary。
〃Seventeen be'st enou；〃 said Myles； grimly。 〃Let us get together this
afternoon； such as may； in the Brutus Tower； for I； as I did say； will no
longer suffer these vile bachelors。〃
Gascoyne and Wilkes exchanged looks； and then the former blew a
long whistle。
So that afternoon a gloomy set of young faces were gathered together
in the Eyryfifteen of the Knights of the Roseand all knew why they
were assembled。 The talk which followed was conducted mostly by Myles。
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He addressed the others with a straightforward vim and earnestness； but
the response was only half…hearted； and when at last； having heated
himself up with his own fire； he sat down； puffing out his red cheeks and
glaring round； a space of silence followed； the lads looked doubtfully at
one another。 Myles felt the chill of their silence strike coldly on his
enthusiasm； and it vexed him。
〃What wouldst thou do； Falworth？〃 said one of the knights； at last。
〃Wouldst have us open a quarrel with the bachelors？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； gruffly。 〃I had thought that ye would all lend me a
hand in a pitched battle but now I see that ye ha' no stomach for that。
Ne'theless； I tell ye plainly I will not submit longer to the bachelors。 So
now I will ask ye not to take any venture upon yourselves； but only this：
that ye will stand by me when I do my fighting； and not let five or seven of
them fall upon me at once。
〃There is Walter Blunt； he is parlous strong； said one of the others；
after a time of silence。 〃Methinks he could conquer any two of us。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃ye do fear him too greatly。 I tell ye I fear not to
stand up to try battle with him and will do so； too； if the need arise。 Only
say ye that ye will stand by my back。〃
〃Marry；〃 said Gascoyne； quaintly； 〃an thou wilt dare take the heavy
end upon thee； I for one am willing to stand by and see that thou have thy
fill of fighting。〃
〃I too will stand thee by； Myles；〃 said Edmund Wilkes。
〃And I； and I； and I；〃 said others； chiming in。
Those who would still have held back were carried along by the
stream； and so it was settled that if the need should arise for Myles to do a
bit of fighting； the others should stand by to see that he had fair play。
〃When thinkest thou that thou wilt take thy stand against them；
Myles？〃 asked Wilkes。
Myles hesitated a moment。 〃To…morrow；〃 said he； grimly。
Several of the lads whistled softly。
Gascoyne was prepared for an early opening of the war； but perhaps
not for such an early opening as this。 〃By 'r Lady； Myles； thou art hungry
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for brawling；〃 said he。
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CHAPTER 13
After the first excitement of meeting； discussing； and deciding had
passed； Myles began to feel the weight of the load he had so boldly taken
upon himself。 He began to reckon what a serious thing it was for him to
stand as a single champion against the tyranny that had grown so strong
through years of custom。 Had he let himself do so； he might almost have
repented； but it was too late now for repentance。 He had laid his hand to
the plough； and he must drive the furrow。
Somehow the news of impending battle had leaked out among the rest
of the body of squires； and a buzz of suppressed excitement hummed
through the dormitory that evening。 The bachelors； to whom； no doubt；
vague rumors had been blown； looked lowering； and talked together in
low voices； standing apart in a group。 Some of them made a rather marked
show of secreting knives in the straw of their beds； and no doubt it had its
effect upon more than one young heart that secretly thrilled at the sight of
the shining blades。 However； all was undisturbed that evening。 The lights
were put out； and the lads retired with more than usual quietness； only for
the murmur of whispering。
All night Myles's sleep was more or less disturbed by dreams in which
he was now conquering； now being conquered； and before the day had
fairly broken he was awake。 He lay upon his cot； keying himself up for the
encounter which he had set upon himself to face； and it would not be the
truth to say that the sight of those knives hidden in the straw the night
before had made no impression upon him。 By…and…by he knew the others
were beginning to awake； for he heard them softly stirring； and as the light
grew broad and strong； saw them arise； one by one； and begin dressing in
the gray morning。 Then he himself arose and put on his doublet and hose；
strapping his belt tightly about his waist； then he sat down on the side of
his cot。
Presently that happened for which he was waiting； two of the younger
squires started to bring the bachelors' morning supply of water。 As they
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crossed the room Myles called to them in a loud voicea little uneven；
perhaps： 〃Stop！ We draw no more water for any one in this house； saving
only for ourselves。 Set ye down those buckets； and go back to your
places！〃
The two lads stopped； half turned； and then stood still； holding the
three buckets undecidedly。
In a moment all was uproar and confusion； for by this time every one
of the lads had arisen； some sitting on the edge of their beds； some nearly；
others quite dressed。 A half…dozen of the Knights of the Rose came over to
where Myles stood； gathering in a body behind him and the others
followed； one after another。
The bachelors were hardly prepared for such prompt and vigorous
action。
〃What is to do？〃 cried one of them； who stood near the two lads with
the buckets。 〃Why fetch ye not the water？〃
〃Falworth says we shall not fetch it；〃 answered one of the lads； a boy
by the name of Gosse。
〃What mean ye by that； Falworth？〃 the young man called to Myles。
Myles's heart was beating thickly and heavily within him；