Birds of prey were screaming above the moat
near the postern, and there was a stillness about the place that would
have argued desertion if the flag had not still floated from one of the
towers.
"I like not this stillness," said De Skirlaw.
"It hath a menacing air," observed De Kellaw.
A while the two waited in the outskirts of the wood near the cleared
place about the castle. Then said De Skirlaw, "I go forward boldly to
the bridge and summon the warder in the king's name."
"I go with thee," agreed De Kellaw.
So briskly the two rode forth from the shelter of the wood and up to
the entrance, where De Skirlaw loudly wound his horn. But there was no
response. He wound it again. And still there came no answer.
"Seest thou no man upon the walls?" asked De Skirlaw, scanning the
heights with eyes somewhat near-sighted.
"I see no one," responded the hawk-eyed De Kellaw.
"Let us skirt the castle," proposed De Skirlaw, after a short pause.
"I am ready," responded De Kellaw.
Then together the two began their tour of examination. And the first
thing they noted was the dam which William Lorimer and his men had
constructed, and which the old warder had broken before he himself
wandered forth from the castle, thus letting the water which had filled
the rear part of the moat escape.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203