THE STOCKADE When Oliver and Felix started, they left Philip, the third and youngest of the three brothers, still at breakfast.

They turned to the left, on getting out of doors, and again to the left, through the covered passage between the steward's store and the kitchen.

Then crossing the waggon yard, they paused a moment to glance in at the forge, where two men were repairing part of a plough.
Oliver must also look for a moment at his mare, after which they directed their steps to the South Gate.

The massive oaken door was open, the bolts having been drawn back at hornblow.

There was a guard-room on one side of the gate under the platform in the corner, where there was always supposed to be a watch.
But in times of peace, and when there were no apprehensions of attack, the men whose turn it was to watch there were often called away for a time to assist in some labour going forward, and at that moment were helping to move the woolpacks farther into the warehouse.