The Black Tor | Page 4

girl, whose features proclaimed
sisterhood, started out to meet him.
"Oh Ralph," she said, "who are those dreadful-looking men you have
brought up?"
"Don't stop me, Min," he said hastily. "Old soldiers who want to see
father. Where is he?"
"In his room."
The lad hurried on, and entered through a door way on his left, to
where, in an oaken-panelled room, a stern, slightly grey,
military-looking man sat poring over an old book, but looked up

directly the lad entered.
"Ah, Ralph, boy," he said; "been out?"
"Only on the cliff, father," cried the lad hastily. "Visitors."
"Visitors? Nonsense! I expect no visitors. Who are they?"
"Captain Purlrose and his men."
"Purlrose!" cried Sir Morton, with a look of angry disgust. "Here?"
"Yes, father," said Ralph, watching keenly the impression made by his
words. "Waiting at the foot of the steps."
"Bah! I thought the drunken, bullying scoundrel was dead and gone
years ago. Hung or shot, for he deserved either."
"Hah!" ejaculated the lad, with a sigh of relief. "Then you are not glad
to see him, father?"
"Glad to see him? Are you mad, boy?"
"No, father," said the lad, with a merry laugh. "I hope not; but he said
you would be, and that you were old brothers-in-arms, and that he
longed to grip you by the hand; and he tried to hug me, and shed tears,
and flattered me, and said all sorts of things."
"Pah! the same as of old; but you said--and his men."
"Yes, about a dozen like him; ruffianly-looking, rag-bags of fellows, all
armed, and looking like a gang of bullies and robbers."
Sir Morton frowned, rose from his seat, and walked to the side of the
room, where his sword and belt lay in front of a bookcase.
"Well, I suppose I must see the fellow. He served under me, years ago,
Ralph, and I suppose he has come begging, unless he sees a chance to
steal."

"Then I was not unjust, father, in thinking ill of the man and disliking
him."
"Unjust? Pah! The fellow was a disgrace to the name of soldier; and
now, I suppose, that there is no war on the way, he has been discharged
from the king's service, with a pack of his companions."
"He said he had saved your life, father."
Sir Morton laughed contemptuously. "I have no recollection of the fact,
Ralph, boy, and I don't think I should have forgotten so important a
matter; but I do recollect saving his, by interceding when he was about
to be shot for plundering some helpless people. There; let him and a
couple of his men come in. The poor wretch is in a bad state, I suppose,
and I will give him something to help him on his road."
Ralph went to the door, but turned back, hesitating.
"Well, my boy?" said his father.
"Had I not better tell some of the men to arm, and be ready?" asked the
lad.
"What! Nonsense, boy! I know my man. He would not dare to be
insolent."
"But he has a dangerous-looking gang of fellows with him."
"Of the same kind as himself, Ralph. Have no fear of that. If there were
real danger, we could soon summon a dozen stout men to deal with him
and his party. But, as I said, let him only bring in two or three with
him."
Ralph hurried out, and found the captain and his men forming a
picturesque group about the stone steps; and as soon as he appeared, the
former swung himself round, and threw his cloak over his shoulder,
with a swaggering gesture.
"Hallo, my young eagle," he cried. "What saith the parent bird, the

gallant lord of the castle?"
"My father will see you, sir," replied Ralph. "This way."
"Aha! I knew he would," cried the man, giving his steel cap a cock over
on one side, and displaying a large pink patch of his bald head. "Come
on, brave boys."
"Stop!" cried Ralph quickly. "Three of you, only, are to accompany
your leader."
"Eh? What?" cried the captain fiercely, as a low murmur arose.
"That is what my father said, sir."
"What does this mean?" cried the man theatrically. "Separate me from
my brave companions-in-arms? Does this mean treachery, young sir?"
"Treachery? Why should it mean that?" cried Ralph stoutly, as the
man's words endorsed the character so lately given of him. "If," argued
Ralph to himself, "the fellow were the honest, brave soldier, why
should he fear treachery from the brother-officer with whom he said he
had often shared danger?"
"The world is full of wickedness, boy," replied the captain; "and I have
often been misjudged. But there; a brave man never knows fear. You
three come with me, and if in half an hour