The Black Tor | Page 6

country round. That, sir, is why I have come, to
confer a favour more than ask one. Now, sir, what do you say? Such a
chance for you may never occur again."
"Hah!" ejaculated Sir Morton; "and all this out of pure good
fellowship!"
"Of course; save that a retainer who risks his life in his chief's service is
worthy of his hire."
"Naturally, sir. So that is your meaning--your object in coming?"

"That is it, Sir Morton. We can put your castle in a state of defence,
make raids, and harass the enemy, fetch in stores from the surrounding
country, and make you a great man. Think of how you can humble the
Edens."
Sir Morton frowned as he looked back at the past, and then from thence
up to his present position, one in which he felt that he played a humble
part in presence of his stronger enemy; and Ralph watched him, read in
his face that he was about to accept his visitor's proposal, and with a
feeling of horror at the thought of such a gang being hired to occupy a
part of the castle, and brought, as it were, into a kind of intimacy, he
turned quickly to his father, laid his hand upon his arm, and whispered
eagerly:
"Father, pray, pray don't do this. They are a terribly villainous set of
ruffians."
The captain twitched his big ears in his efforts to catch what was said;
but he could only hear enough to make out that the son was opposing
the plans, and he scowled fiercely at the lad.
"Wait, wait," said Sir Morton.
"But do go out and look at the rest of the men, father," whispered
Ralph.
"There is no need."
"Then you will not agree, father?"
"Most certainly not, my boy."
Purlrose could not catch all this, but he scowled again.
"Look here, young cockerel," he cried, "don't you try and set my old
officer against me."
"No need," said Sir Morton hotly.

"Ah, that's because hard times have made me and my poor gallant
fellows look a little shabby."
"Not that, sir. Your old character stands in your way."
"Oh, this is hard--this is hard. You rich, and with everything
comfortable, while I am poor, and unrewarded for all my labour and
risk by an ungrateful Scot."
"Don't insult your sovereign, sir!" cried Sir Morton.
"Oh, this is hard--this is hard."
"Look here, Michael Purlrose, if you had been an officer and a
gentleman in distress, I would have helped you."
"Do you mean to say that I am not an officer, and a gentleman in
distress, sir?" cried the captain, clapping his hand to the hilt of his
sword, a movement imitated by Ralph, angrily. But Sir Morton stood
back, unmoved.
"Let your sword alone, boy," he said sternly. "You, Michael Purlrose,
knowing you as I do of old, for a mouthing, cowardly bully, do you
think that I am going to be frightened by your swagger? Yes, I tell you
that you are no gentleman."
"Oh, this is too much," cried the visitor. "It is enough to make me call
in my men."
"Indeed!" said Sir Morton coolly. "Why call them in to hear me
recapitulate your disgrace? As to your appeals to me for help, and your
claim, which you profess to have upon me, let me remind you that you
were engaged as a soldier of fortune, and well paid for your services,
though you and yours disgraced the royal army by your robberies and
outrages. All you gained you wasted in riot and drunkenness, and now
that you are suffering for your follies, you come and make claims upon
me."

"Oh, this is too hard upon a poor soldier who has bled in his country's
service. Did I not once save your life, when you were at your last
gasp?"
"No, sir; it was the other way on. I saved yours, and when I was
surrounded, and would have been glad of your help, you ran away."
"Ha-ha-ha!" cried Ralph, bursting into a roar of laughter.
"Ah-h-ah!" cried the captain fiercely, as he half drew his sword; but he
drove it back with a loud clang into its sheath directly. "Stay there,
brave blade, my only true and trusted friend. He is the son of my old
companion-in-arms, and I cannot draw upon a boy."
Ralph laughed aloud again, and the captain scowled, and rolled his eyes
fiercely; but he did not startle the lad in the least, and after a long,
fierce stare, the man turned to Sir Morton.
"Don't be hard upon an old brother-soldier, Morton Darley," he said.
"No, I will not," said Sir Morton quietly. "You and your men can
refresh yourselves in the hall, and when you start on your way, I