The Black Tor | Page 6

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 will give you a pound or two to help you."
"Oh, as if I were a common wayside beggar. Comrade, this is too hard. Can you not see that my beard is getting grizzled and grey?"
"Yes; but I do not see what that has to do with it."
"Think again, old comrade. Twelve brave and true men have I with me. Take us as your gentlemen and men at arms to protect you and yours against those who are unfriendly. You must have enemies."
Sir Morton started and glanced at his son, for these words touched a spring in his breast. With thirteen fighting men to increase his little force, what might he not do? The Edens' stronghold, with its regularly coming-in wealth, must fall before him; and, once in possession, Sir Edward Eden might petition and complain; but possession was nine points of the law, and the king had enough to do without sending a force into their wild out-of-the-way part of the world to interfere. Once he had hold of the Black Tor, he could laugh at the law, and see the