Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/40

16 better than a robber-baron. Merchants go miles about rather than come within his reach, but nevertheless he now and then falls upon a pack-train, and he has become wealthy."

"How many men can he get together?" Hugh asked,—"given a few months for gathering them?"

"But few decent men," Edgar replied, "but many rogues. Hope of plunder will bring together hundreds of the fighting-men now out of employment. He has about him perhaps two hundred, and should be able to get enough to raise his force to at least five hundred, if he can wait long enough."

Edgar saw that his purpose was accomplished. The soldier's face had lost its listless expression, and he was listening eagerly. In this, Edgar was following the baron's advice. "After I am gone," he had said, "you will find old Hugh like an old hunting-dog kept indoors when the horn is blown. I wish you to go to him and interest him in talk about the castle. He is a valuable man, and it is important to gain his good-will; not that he is not thoroughly faithful and sure to do his duty in any event, but because I wish him to give his whole heart to your service." The young man hastened to put this counsel to practice, and with such good effect that Hugh forgot to regret the