Mrs. Thayne sent Roger to find and engage a donkey which Win mounted without protest, after one glance at the climb before him, though he insisted on swinging the boxes of luncheon before him on the little animal's neck. Its owner was dismissed, Roger agreeing to pull the beast up the hill.
Mont Orgueil forms the crest of a lofty conical rock and looks down like a grim giant upon the blue waters that stretch away to the coast of France. Tier after tier the fortifications mount the cone, crowned at the apex by a flagstaff.
At the castle entrance, gained after a steady climb, a small boy appeared, sent by the castle keeper to act as guide. He tied the donkey to an iron post and led the way into the interior.
"This is the oldest part," he began shyly. "They do say this tower was built by Julius Caesar."
"Gracious, that's some story!" whistled Roger, looking with all his might.
"I believe it is true," said Mrs. Thayne. "Win, you were reading about the castle before we started."
"Yes," said Win. "That's straight about Caesar. That's why I wanted
Fran to see it. And most of the place was built a thousand years ago.
Is it ever used now!"
[Illustration: ABOVE AND BEHIND TOWERED THE RUINED CASTLE OF ORGUEIL]
"In summer the signal service is quartered here," replied the boy.
"This is the well, ninety feet deep."
As he spoke, he dropped a pebble over a low parapet. Some seconds later came a hollow splash.