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hath lived there since Earl Robert's day； which belike was an hundred
years agone。 The story goeth that Earl Robert's brotheror step… brother
was 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？〃
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〃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
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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 an one！〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃but look at this saddle。 Marry； here be'st a rat's
nest in it。〃
Clouds of dust rose as they rummaged among the mouldering mass；
setting them coughing and sneezing。 Now and then a great gray rat would
shoot out beneath their very feet； and disappear； like a sudden shadow； into
some hole or cranny in the wall。
〃Come；〃 said Myles at last； brushing the dust from his jacket； 〃an we
tarry here longer we will have chance to see no other sights； the sun is
falling low。〃
An arched stair…way upon the opposite side of the room from which
they had entered wound upward through the wall； the stone steps being
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lighted by narrow slits of windows cut through the massive masonry。
Above the room they had just left was another of the same shape and size；
but with an oak floor； sagging and rising into hollows and hills； where the
joist had rotted away beneath。 It was bare and empty； and not even a rat
was to be seen。 Above was another room； above that