Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/39

Rh door of the keep where the baron's family had their apartments. Seeing the old soldier, and guessing that he was lonely and restless, Edgar walked toward him. Hugh was sitting upon a stone bench, and rose as Edgar approached; but Edgar sat down, and begging Hugh to be seated, began the conversation by saying:

"Hugh, it will be hard for an old campaigner to pass his time inside the castle walls unless he has plenty to occupy him. So I am going to ask you to take charge at once of the garrison here, and to train them in all the duties of soldiers. They are clever and willing, but, except for the men my father brought, are wholly ignorant of warfare. I believe my father did not like to tell us the full extent of the danger of an attack. Perhaps he did not know so much about it as I myself know. But I believe the attempt will be made, and that we shall have no more time to make ready for it than we need. Guy de Ferrers has sent men to examine our defenses very recently. I am sure of it. Hunting parties from his own castle have been about here more than once in the last month, and there is no game to be had here that he could not readily find within half the distance. So soon as he hears that my father is on his way to the East, he will begin his preparations. He has plenty of money, for he is little