But it could be no false alarm. The time for action had come; and, turning to the right, he waved his hands, turned to the left, and did likewise; and directly after a puff of grey smoke darted out from the top of each tower, followed by two rapidly succeeding peals like thunder, which echoed through the castle, making the jackdaws fly out of their resting-places to wheel round, crying vociferously.
“Now,” said Roy to himself, “the staff is ready. It’s time to raise the king’s flag.”
But the flag was still in Lady Royland’s hands, and the boy descended to cross to her private apartments and fetch it away.
But half-way across the pleasaunce he encountered Master Pawson, looking wild-eyed, pale, and strange.
“What is the matter?” he cried. “What is that firing for?”
“The enemy are near, Master Pawson,” said Roy, quietly; “and I suppose that before long they will pay us a visit.”
“But the guns—why were the guns fired?”
“As a signal, of course, for our men to gather, and for such of the village people as like to take refuge here. I thought you knew.”
“I? No. I did not know. But the people will not come,” said the secretary, with undue excitement; and he now looked very pale indeed.
“It will be rather hard, though, if they do not, after all this drilling and teaching.”