“For the love of prince Charles,” he said, “can you give us any provender, Mrs. Margaret?  It is cold work watching all night, with neither food nor drink, save one bottle of whiskey among ten of us, and scarce a dry crust.”

“But what have you done?” asked Tamar.

“We have nabbed them,” replied the boy.  “There were four of them, besides an old woman who was taken in the cave, and they are in the Tower till we can get the magistrates here, and proper hands to see them off.  They came like rats from under ground.  My master had made out where to expect them, in one of the cellars, behind the great hogshead which used to be filled at the birth of the heir, and emptied at his coming of age.  So we were ready in the cellar, and nabbed three of them there, and the other, who was hindmost, and the woman, were taken as they ran out the other way; and there they are in the strong-hold, that is, the four men, but the woman is up above; and it is pitiful to hear how she howls and cries, and calls for the Laird; but he fell asleep as soon as he knew all was safe, and we have not the heart to disturb him.”

“Well,” said Mrs. Margaret, “I am most thankful that all is over without bloodshed, and my nephew asleep.  No wonder, as he has not slept since twelve in the morning of yesterday.”

“Excepting in his chair,” said Tamar.

“But the provender, mistress,” said the young man.

“Here,” replied Tamar; “lift this pail on your head, and take this loaf, and I will follow with what else I can find.”

“Nay, Tamar,” said Mrs. Margaret, “You would not go where there is such a number of men and no woman, but that old witch Rebecca.”

“I am not afraid of going where my father is,” replied Tamar; “but I must see that woman.  I should know her immediately.  I am convinced that she is the very person who brought me to Shanty’s shed.  She hinted at some connexion with me.  Oh, horrible! may it not be possible that I may have near relations among these miserable men who are shut up in the strong-hold of the Tower?”

As Tamar said these words, she burst into tears, and sunk upon the bosom of Mrs. Margaret, who, kissing her tenderly, said, “Child of my affections, of this be assured, that nothing shall separate you from me.  My heart, methinks, clings more and more to you; and oh, my Tamar! that which I seem most to fear is that you should be claimed by any one who may have a right to take you from me.”

This was a sort of assurance at that moment requisite to the poor girl; and such, indeed, was the interest which Mrs. Margaret felt in ascertaining if this really were the woman who had brought Tamar to Shanty’s, that she put on her hood and cloak, and having filled a basket from the larder, she locked the cottage door, and went with Tamar to the Tower.  It was barely light when they crossed the moat, for the bridge was not drawn; and when they entered the inner-court, they found many of the peasants seated in a circle, dipping portions of the loaf in Brindle’s pail.