“Why, sir, I mean this: that if any one came up to the gate and wanted to come in—‘Give the pass,’ says Jenk. ‘Haven’t got one,’ says whoever it is. ‘Can’t pass, then,’ says Jenk, and then—”
“Well, yes, and then?” said Roy. “Why, sir, if he took a good deep breath, and then gave a puff, he’d blow poor old Jenk into the moat. He’s a good old boy, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but we can’t leave things at the gate like that.”
“But it would break his heart to be told he is—he—”
“Too rusty to go on, sir,” said Ben, grimly. “But it would break her ladyship’s heart if we didn’t do our duty, and we shan’t be doing that if we leave our outwork in the hands of poor old Jenk.”
“What’s to be done?”
“I know, sir. Tell him the gate’s very important, and that he must have two men with him, and let him suppose they’re under his command.”
“That’s it, capital!” cried Roy. “Then we must place two men there with him at once.”
“Ye-e-es, sir,” said Ben, drily. “But who are we to place there—ourselves?”
Roy looked hard at Ben, and Ben looked hard at Roy.
“You see, sir, we’ve got the castle and the weepuns, but we’ve no garrison. That’s the first thing to see to. Why, when those three troopers have gone back with their despatch, we shall have as good as nobody.”