ez_," he added in French.

There was no more delay. A couple of men were ordered to the front with
iron bars, and they began to batter the door heavily, but without any
further effect than to chip off splinters and make dints.

The men were called off, the rest standing ready to fire at anyone who
should show a face at the windows, but we gave them no opportunity, for
my father whispered:

"They are sixty. We are only just over a dozen. Wait, men, wait."

"What are they doing, Big?" I whispered to my companion, for he was in
a better post for observations than myself.

"I can't quite see," he whispered back. "They've got a bag of
something, and they're bringing it to the door."

I looked out quickly.

"Powder!" I exclaimed, and then I ran to the head of the stairs and
called down to my father: "They are going to blow in the door with
powder."

"Good!" said my father coolly, and issuing an order or two he drew all
his men together into the back room. "Stay where you are, Sep," he
whispered; "the explosion will not touch you, only, if we are hard
pressed afterwards, come down with your men and take the enemy in the
rear."

I felt my heart swell with pride at being treated like this, and the
nervous sensation of dread grew less.

"Sooner the better, Master Sep," said one of the workmen. "Better keep
away from the window, sir."

"No," I replied, "I must see what they are doing."

I felt that I must, and going to the window I stood upon a chair, and,
keeping out of sight, looked down from the upper corner just in time to
see a man run back from the door to join his companions, several of whom
held rough torches of oakum steeped in tar.

"What are they doing, Big?" I whispered.

"That fellow has just laid a powder-bag by the door. But, Sep, you
can't see any Englishmen there, can you?"

"No," I said hastily; "but I'm sure that's the French skipper Gualtiere
standing to the left of the French captain."

"So it is," whispered Bigley. "I thought I knew the face. Look out!"

"What are they going to do?"

"The men are being drawn back, all but the fellows with the lights, and
one of them is coming forward to light the powder. Yes; now all the
others are retiring."

"I can see," I whispered. "Now I can see the man with the torch. I
say, will it blow the place up?"

"I don't know," said Bigley in a low whisper; "but I feel horribly
frightened."

"So do I," I whispered back; "but don't let's