"I am glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph," Walter said, "and hope
that we shall be great friends henceforth, that is, if you will take me as
such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, while I am not
yet half through mine. But I have come to talk to you about tomorrow. Have
you heard that there is to be a mimic siege?"

"I have heard about it," Ralph said. "The city is talking of nothing else.
The news was published at the end of the sports. It will be rare fun,
surely."

"It will be pretty rough fun," Walter replied; "and I should not be much
surprised if some lives are lost; but this is always so in a tournament;
and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need not
fear to hazard our lives. But now as to tomorrow. I, as the winner today,
am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of course be
captain under me. Now I want to explain to you exactly what I propose to
do, and to arrange with you as to your share in the business."

The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when he
had done, exclaimed admiringly: "Why, Walter, you seem to be made for a
general. How did it all come to you, lad? I should never have thought of
such a scheme."

"I talked it over with my master," Walter said, "and the idea is his as
much as mine. I wonder if it will do."

"It is sure to do," the smith said enthusiastically. "The castle is as good
as taken."

The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the