"Out upon it!" cried he, his patience giving way. "Seest not that I
am in serious earnest? Why then dost thou still jest like Mad Noll, my
Lord's fool? An thou wilt not lend me thine aid in this matter, say so
and ha' done with it, and I will bethink me of somewhere else to turn."

Then Gascoyne yielded at once, as he always did when his friend lost his
temper, and having once assented to it, entered into the scheme heart
and soul. Three other lads--one of them that tall thin squire Edmund
Wilkes, before spoken of--were sounded upon the subject. They also
entered into the plan of the secret organization with an enthusiasm
which might perhaps not have been quite so glowing had they realized how
very soon Myles designed embarking upon active practical operations.
One day Myles and Gascoyne showed them the strange things that they
had discovered in the old tower--the inner staircases, the winding
passage-ways, the queer niches and cupboard, and the black shaft of a
well that pierced down into the solid wall, and whence, perhaps, the old
castle folk had one time drawn their supply of water in time of siege,
and with every new wonder of the marvellous place the enthusiasm of the
three recruits rose higher and higher. They rummaged through the lumber
pile in the great circular room as Myles and Gascoyne had done, and at
last, tired out, they ascended to the airy chapel, and there sat cooling
themselves in the rustling freshness of the breeze that came blowing
briskly in through the arched windows.

It was then and there that the five discussed and finally determined
upon the detailed plans of their organization, canvassing the names of
the squirehood, and selecting from it a sufficient number of bold and
daring spirits to make up a roll of twenty names in all.