he was the Earl of Derby； what could he have gained had he stood so against the old King Richard； brooking the King face to face？ I tell thee he would have been knocked on the head as thou wert like to have been this day。 Now were I thee； and had to fight a fight against odds； I would first get me friends behind me； and then〃 He stopped short； but Myles understood him well enough。
〃Sir；〃 said he； with a gulp； 〃I do thank thee for thy friendship； and ask thy pardon for doing as I did anon。〃
〃I grant thee pardon；〃 said the knight； 〃but tell thee plainly； an thou dost face me so again； I will truly send thee to the black cell for a week。 Now get thee away。〃
All the other lads were gone when Myles came forth； save only the faithful Gascoyne； who sacrificed his bath that day to stay with his friend； and perhaps that little act of self…denial moved Myles more than many a great thing might have done。
〃It was right kind of thee； Francis；〃 said he； laying his hand affectionately on his friend's shoulder。 〃I know not why thou lovest me so。〃
〃Why； for one thing； this matter；〃 answered his friend； 〃because methinks thou art the best fighter and the bravest one of all of us squires。〃
Myles laughed。 Nevertheless Gascoyne's words were a soothing balm for much that had happened that day。 〃I will fight me no more just now；〃 said he； and then he told his friend all that Sir James had advised about biding his time。
Gascoyne blew a long whistle。 〃Beshrew me！〃 quoth he； 〃but methinks old Bruin is on thy side of the quarrel； Myles。 An that be so； I am with thee also； and others that I can name as well。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Myles。 〃Then am I content to abide the time when we may become strong enough to stand against them。〃
CHAPTER 10
Perhaps therE is nothing more delightful in the romance of boyhood than the finding of some secret hiding…place whither a body may creep away from the bustle of the world's life； to nestle in quietness for an hour or two。 More especially is such delightful if it happen that； by peeping from out it； one may look down upon the bustling matters of busy every…day life； while one lies snugly hidden away unseen by any； as though one were in some strange invisible world of one's own。
Such a hiding…place as would have filled the heart of almost any boy with sweet delight Myles and Gascoyne found one summer afternoon。 They called it their Eyry； and the name suited well for the roosting…place of the young hawks that rested in its windy stillness； looking down upon the shifting castle life in the courts below。
Behind the north stable； a great； long； rambling building； thick…walled； and black with age； lay an older part of the castle than that peopled by the better class of lifea cluster of great thick walls； rudely but strongly built； now the dwelling…place of stable…lads and hinds； swine and poultry。 From one part of these ancient walls； and fronting an inner court of the castle； arose a tall； circular； heavy…buttressed tower； considerably higher than the other buildings； and so mantled with a dense growth of aged ivy as to stand a shaft of solid green。 Above its crumbling crown circled hundreds of pigeons； white and pied； clapping and clattering in noisy flight through the sunny air。 Several windows； some closed with shutters； peeped here and there from out the leaves； and near the top of the pile was a row of arched openings； as though of a balcony or an airy gallery。
Myles had more than once felt an idle curiosity about this tower； and one day； as he and Gascoyne sat together； he pointed his finger and said； 〃What is yon place？〃
〃That；〃 answered Gascoyne； looking over his shoulder〃that they call Brutus Tower； for why they do say that Brutus he built it when he came hither to Britain。 I believe not the tale mine own self； ne'theless； it is marvellous ancient； and old Robin…the…Fletcher telleth me that there be stairways built in the wall and passage…ways； and a maze wherein a body may get lost； an he know not the way aright； and never see the blessed light of day again。〃
〃Marry；〃 said Myles； 〃those same be strange sayings。 Who liveth there now？〃
〃No one liveth there；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃saving only some of the stable villains； and that half… witted goose…herd who flung stones at us yesterday when we mocked him down in the paddock。 He and his wife and those others dwell in the vaults beneath； like rabbits in any warren。 No one else hath lived there since Earl Robert's day； which belike was an hundred years agone。 The story goeth that Earl Robert's brotheror step… brotherwas murdered there； and some men say by the Earl himself。 Sin that day it hath been tight shut。〃
Myles stared at the tower for a while in silence。 〃It is a strange…seeming place from without；〃 said he； at last； 〃and mayhap it may be even more strange inside。 Hast ever been within； Francis？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃said I not it hath been fast locked since Earl Robert's day？〃
〃By'r Lady；〃 said Myles； 〃an I had lived here in this place so long as thou； I wot I would have been within it ere this。〃
〃Beshrew me；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃but I have never thought of such a matter。〃 He turned and looked at the tall crown rising into the warm sunlight with a new interest； for the thought of entering it smacked pleasantly of adventure。 〃How wouldst thou set about getting within？〃 said he； presently。
〃Why； look；〃 said Myles； 〃seest thou not yon hole in the ivy branches？ Methinks there is a window at that place。 An I mistake not； it is in reach of the stable eaves。 A body might come up by the fagot pile to the roof of the hen…house； and then by the long stable to the north stable； and so to that hole。〃
Gascoyne looked thoughtfully at the Brutus Tower； and then suddenly inquired； 〃Wouldst go there？〃
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； briefly。
〃So be it。 Lead thou the way in the venture； I will follow after thee；〃 said Gascoyne。
As Myles had said； the climbing from roof to roof was a matter easy enough to an active pair of lads like themselves； but when； by…and…by； they reached the wall of the tower itself； they found the hidden window much higher from the roof than they had judged from belowperhaps ten or twelve feetand it was； besides； beyond the eaves and out of their reach。
Myles looked up and looked down。 Above was the bushy thickness of the ivy； the branches as thick as a woman's wrist； knotted and intertwined； below was the stone pavement of a narrow inner court between two of the stable buildings。
〃Methinks I can climb to yon place；〃 said he。
〃Thou'lt break thy neck an thou tryest；〃 said Gascoyne； hastily。
〃Nay；〃 quoth Myles； 〃I trust not； but break or make； we get not there without trying。 So here goeth for the venture。〃
〃Thou art a hare…brained knave as ever drew breath of life；〃 quoth Gascoyne； 〃and will cause me to come to grief some of these fine days。 Ne'theless； an thou be Jack Fool and lead the way； go； and I will be Tom Fool and follow anon。 If thy neck is worth so little； mine is worth no more。〃
It was indeed a perilous climb； but that special providence which guards reckless lads befriended them； as it has thousands of their kind before and since。 So； by climbing from one knotted； clinging stem to another； they were presently seated snugly in the ivied niche in the window。 It was barred from within by a crumbling shutter； the rusty fastening of which； after some little effort upon the part of the two； gave way； and entering the narrow opening； they found themselves in a small triangular passage…way； from which a steep flight of stone steps led down through a hollow in the massive wall to the room below。
At the bottom of the steps was a heavy oaken door； which stood ajar； hanging upon a single rusty hinge； and from the room within a dull； gray light glimmered faintly。 Myles pushed the door farther open； it creaked and grated horribly on its rusty hinge； and； as in instant answer to the discordant shriek； came a faint piping squeaking； a rustling and a pattering of soft footsteps。
〃The ghosts！〃 cried Gascoyne； in a quavering whisper； and for a moment Myles felt the chill of goose…flesh creep up and down his spine。 But the next moment he laughed。
〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃they be rats。 Look at yon fellow； Francis！ Be'st as big as Mother Joan's kitten。 Give me that stone。〃 He flung it at the rat； and it flew clattering across the floor。 There was another pattering rustle of hundreds of feet； and then a breathless silence。
The boys stood looking around them； and a strange enough sight it was。 The room was a perfect circle of about twenty feet across； and was piled high with an indistinguishable mass of lumberrude tables； ruder chairs； ancient chests； bits and remnants of cloth and sacking and leather； old helmets and pieces of armor of a by…gone time； broken spears and pole…axes； pots and pans and kitchen furniture of all sorts and kinds。
A straight beam of sunlight fell through a broken shutter like a bar of gold； and fell upon the floor in a long streak of dazzling light that illuminated the whole room with a yellow glow。
〃By 'r Lady！〃 said Gascoyne at last； in a hushed voice； 〃here is Father Time's garret for sure。 Didst ever see the like； Myles？ Look at yon arbalist； sure Brutus himself used such