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always did when he was angered or troubled。
There was something about it all that frightened Myles； who crept to
his father's side； and slid his little hand into the palm that hung limp and
inert。 In answer to the touch； his father grasped the hand tightly； but did
not seem otherwise to notice that he was there。 Neither did the black
knight pay any attention to him； but continued putting his questions to
Master Robert。
Then； suddenly； there was a commotion in the hall without； loud
voices； and a hurrying here and there。 The black knight half arose；
grasping a heavy iron mace that lay upon the bench beside him； and the
next moment Sir John Dale himself； as pale as death； walked into the
antechamber。 He stopped in the very middle of the room。 〃I yield me to
my Lord's grace and mercy；〃 said he to the black knight； and they were the
last words he ever uttered in this world。
The black knight shouted out some words of command； and swinging
up the iron mace in his hand； strode forward clanking towards Sir John；
who raised his arm as though to shield himself from the blow。 Two or
three of those who stood in the hall without came running into the room
with drawn swords and bills； and little Myles； crying out with terror； hid
his face in his father's long gown。
The next instant came the sound of a heavy blow and of a groan； then
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MEN OF IRON
another blow and the sound of one falling upon the ground。 Then the
clashing of steel； and in the midst Lord Falworth crying； in a dreadful
voice； 〃Thou traitor！ thou coward！ thou murderer！〃
Master Robert snatched Myles away from his father； and bore him out
of the room in spite of his screams and struggles； and he remembered just
one instant's sight of Sir John lying still and silent upon his face； and of
the black knight standing above him； with the terrible mace in his hand
stained a dreadful red。
It was the next day that Lord and Lady Falworth and little Myles；
together with three of the more faithful of their people； left the castle。
His memory of past things held a picture for Myles of old Diccon
Bowman standing over him in the silence of midnight with a lighted lamp
in his hand； and with it a recollection of being bidden to hush when he
would have spoken； and of being dressed by Diccon and one of the women；
bewildered with sleep； shuddering and chattering with cold。
He remembered being wrapped in the sheepskin that lay at the foot of
his bed； and of being carried in Diccon Bowman's arms down the silent
darkness of the winding stair…way； with the great black giant shadows
swaying and flickering upon the stone wall as the dull flame of the lamp
swayed and flickered in the cold breathing of the night air。
Below were his father and mother and two or three others。 A stranger
stood warming his hands at a newly…made fire； and little Myles； as he
peeped from out the warm sheepskin； saw that he was in riding…boots and
was covered with mud。 He did not know till long years afterwards that the
stranger was a messenger sent by a friend at the King's court； bidding his
father fly for safety。
They who stood there by the red blaze of the fire were all very still；
talking in whispers and walking on tiptoes； and Myles's mother hugged
him in her arms； sheepskin and all； kissing him； with the tears streaming
down her cheeks； and whispering to him； as though he could understand
their trouble； that they were about to leave their home forever。
Then Diccon Bowman carried him out into the strangeness of the
winter midnight。
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MEN OF IRON
Outside； beyond the frozen moat； where the osiers； stood stark and stiff
in their winter nakedness； was a group of dark figures waiting for them
with horses。 In the pallid moonlight Myles recognized the well…known
face of Father Edward； the Prior of St。 Mary's。
After that came a long ride through that silent night upon the saddle…
bow in front of Diccon Bowman； then a deep； heavy sleep； that fell upon
him in spite of the galloping of the horses。
When next he woke the sun was shining； and his home and his whole
life were changed。
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CHAPTER 2
From the time the family escaped from Falworth Castle that midwinter
night to the time Myles was sixteen years old he knew nothing of the great
world beyond Crosbey…Dale。 A fair was held twice in a twelvemonth at the
market…town of Wisebey； and three times in the seven years old Diccon
Bowman took the lad to see the sights at that place。 Beyond these three
glimpses of the outer world he lived almost as secluded a life as one of the
neighboring monks of St。 Mary's Priory。
Crosbey…Holt； their new home； was different enough from Falworth or
Easterbridge Castle； the former baronial seats of Lord Falworth。 It was a
long； low； straw…thatched farm…house； once； when the church lands were
divided into two holdings； one of the bailiff's houses。 All around were the
fruitful farms of the priory； tilled by well…to…do tenant holders； and rich
with fields of waving grain； and meadow…lands where sheep and cattle
grazed in flocks and herds； for in those days the church lands were under
church rule； and were governed by church laws； and there； when war and
famine and waste and sloth blighted the outside world； harvests flourished
and were gathered； and sheep were sheared and cows were milked in
peace and quietness。
The Prior of St。 Mary's owed much if not all of the church's prosperity
to the blind Lord Falworth； and now he was paying it back with a haven of
refuge from the ruin that his former patron had brought upon himself by
giving shelter to Sir John Dale。
I fancy that most boys do not love the grinding of school lifethe
lessons to be conned； the close application during study hours。 It is not
often pleasant to brisk； lively lads to be so cooped up。 I wonder what the
boys of to…day would have thought of Myles's training。 With him that
training was not only of the mind； but of the body