CHAPTER I
DICK SWIMS THE MOAT
Giles the stableman had led out the horses, the two horses--one for the steward, Master Purvis, one for Captain Dent,--and he stood at their heads in the castle-yard. The owner of the castle, Sir Reginald Chester, was dead--killed in battle; Captain Dent, his cousin, did not care to hold Dent Castle for the King, and was leaving it to its fate. The servants had fled, hearing the enemy were at hand. Master Purvis remained, and Giles the stableman--Master Purvis because he was too fat to run away, and Giles by Captain Dent's orders, and for reasons of his own. Dick Chester, the late baronet's son, aged eleven years, stood on the steps, very red in the face, waiting for his cousin. Out came Captain Dent, swinging a riding-whip--a handsome, hard-looking man, dressed in a riding-suit of buff leather, with a breastplate of steel and a crimson sash. His beaver hat was of black, with a waving crimson plume, and a long sword swung at his heels as he strode down the steps. Dick sprang forward.
"Cousin--!" he cried.
"Is the flag down?" asked Captain Dent of Giles, who stepped back and looked up at the tower.
"Yes, sir," he said, saluting.
"Cousin John," Dick said, coming up to him again, "I wish to remain behind."
"You wish?" said the captain grimly. "Get on to that horse, and be brisk, I advise you. You and your wishes! Go to!"
Dick hung back with an angry glance at the captain, who turned to the stableman.
"Go and find that fat fool of a steward. Am I to wait all day for servants and children?"
He swore as he sprang into the saddle.
"What, not up yet?" he thundered, as he saw Dick still irresolute on the steps of the door.
"'Tis my house," the boy cried impulsively; "my house, now my father's dead. It was to be held for the King. You've no right to drive us away. You've no business--"
The captain made a long arm and struck at him. Dick dodged the blow, flew down the steps, whipped across the courtyard, over the drawbridge, and out of sight. Captain Dent spurred after him, thundered across the bridge, and stared about him. The long white road twisted through the fields to the highway. Through the length and breadth of the land all was still. There was not a sign of Dick. The captain was furious. He swore. He stormed. He searched every ditch and hedgerow with his eye. No Dick. The fat steward came ambling out behind him. He suggested that they should call to him. As if, quoth his kinsman, he would come! It was rather like singing: "Dilly-dilly ducks, come and be killed", you know, for John Dent was a cruel man, and Dick feared him dreadfully. There was only a thrashing in store for him did he come. Master Purvis suggested searching.
"Not I," said the captain; "he may stay and starve, for me; or be found by Roundheads and hanged, for me! Up with the drawbridge, Giles! Surrender when called upon, and good-day!"
So the captain pricked his horse up to a canter, and Master Purvis, with a wry face, for he hated riding, jogged behind him.
No sooner were they well out of sight down the highway than young Richard Chester appeared on the scene from a little wood behind the old gray castle. When he reached the moat he found the drawbridge was drawn up, but at the same time perceived Giles the stableman's dark head through the latticed panes of the gate-house window.
"What ho, there! Giles!" he shouted.
No answer.
"Giles!" again he shouted.
No movement.
Losing patience at the fourth repetition, he took up a pebble and flung it through the glass into the room. At this Giles came forth.
"Let down the bridge, sirrah!" cried little Dick.
"Not so, my young friend," answered the stableman.
"I'm not your young friend," said Dick angrily. "Let down the bridge!"
"Not so, my young enemy, then," Giles replied calmly. "I hold this castle for the King. Those who run away at twelve cannot return at one. Good-morning."
He turned away.
"Giles," Dick shouted, dancing on the moat-edge in his excitement, "I order you! I'm your master."
"Ha, ha!" said Giles, "that is a good jest, my little one," and he stepped back.
"I'm Sir Richard Chester, and the castle's mine!" Dick cried.
"Come and take it then, my man," said Giles, and he went back into the gate-house, and shut the door.
Prayers, entreaties, threats, explanations passed across the moat to unheeding ears. Dick at last, tired out, sat down and cried. Then, stung by the thought that Giles the stableman watched and laughed, he sprang up, pulled off his coat and shoes, plunged into the deep moat, and swam across.