“Yes, sir, and hang all spies and traitors.”
“Don’t let’s imagine that such people are possible,” said Roy. “But was that what you wanted to talk about, sergeant?”
“No, captain, it wasn’t. I got thinking this morning, as I was looking round for weak points in our defences, that there’s the old tale about that there underground passage; the little chapel on the hill made me think of it first.”
“But do you believe it’s possible, Ben?”
“Not knowing, sir, can’t say. But I tell you what I do say: there’s nothing like taking care. Don’t do to leave a hole in a sand-bag if it’s ever so small. So as soon as we’ve got a little more ship-shape and our garrison beginning to grow, let’s you and me get a lantern some night, and have a good look to see if there is such a rat’s hole.”
“Of course; yes.”
“Keep it quiet, sir, except to her ladyship. There may be such a place, for in the good old times there were a great many curious doings, and it would be a fine one to have a way in and out when the enemy thought they’d got people shut up closely, and was going to starve ’em out; and them able to bring in more men, and sacks of corn, and pigs and ducks and geese and chickens, and laughing at the enemy all the time.”
“We must see, Ben; and I want you, as soon as the farmer’s party are settling down, to go and try about more men.”
“I say, sir, aren’t it strange as none of the gentry hasn’t been over?”
“Too soon, perhaps, Ben.”