e hole larger."

"There be too few of us," said Winter. "I think some word should be
sent to my brother Robert, that he join us in this business, and also
Master Keyes, who being a man of much resource, and, perchance,
skilled in such labor as this, may aid us much."

"Can he be trusted in so dangerous a venture?" asked Wright. "Of thy
brother Robert there is no fear, but what of this Master Keyes?"

"Friend Guido will answer for his loyalty," replied Winter; "the man
is reliable, though his zeal turneth to the securing of money.
Already have I examined him, and found that within his mind lay some
suspicion as to our object in collecting such a quantity of powder.
For recompense he will dig most industriously, and promise of reward
when our mission is accomplished will make him dumb. Thou hast my word
upon it."

"Then," said Catesby, "let him be summoned hither, and thy brother
also; much labor lies before us; seven men can scarce accomplish it,
and we are now but five."

It was agreed that on the following night Fawkes should bring Keyes
and Robert Winter to the cellar, when, with a greater number to labor,
the work of forcing a passage through the wall could be accomplished
more rapidly. In the meantime, being excessively wearied, the
conspirators left the cellar and sought repose.

* * * * *

Two weeks passed. The excavation in the wall of the Parliament House
had increased day by day, until a hole some five or six feet in
length, large enough to admit the body of a man, was bored through the
solid masonry. With the assistance of the two additional members to
their little party the conspirators worked with renewed energy. Filled
with enthusiasm they had little sense of fatigue, and plied pick and
drill vigorously that they might gain entrance to the room beneath the
lord's chamber before the convening of Parliament, which, as Percy
learned, was to take place on the fifth of November. Confident that
their work was appointed by God, those men of gentle blood curbed
their impatience, though laborious and slow was the task, and every
muscle and bone ached when the tools were laid aside. For a time the
disposal of the earth and rock taken from the tunnel puzzled them, but
Fawkes with characteristic quickness found a way;--such of the debris
as would attract little attention was scattered about the garden; as
for the larger rocks and mortar, the river was close at hand, and, as
Rober