s it. You know. The fuse cord."

Mark had a roll of loose twisted hemp soaked in saltpetre and powder out
of the box directly, and armed with a powder-bag each, they hurried
trembling back, to reach the gateway, peer round the corner, and see
that the attack was going on as fiercely as ever, while the defence was
very weak, and they knew that before long the door must yield. In fact,
amidst a burst of cheers, a hole had been already driven through, to be
made use of by the defenders for sending thrusts out with their pikes.

"Up with you," whispered Mark, and the two lads hurried up a little
winding staircase on to the top of the inner gate-tower, from whence
they could go along one side of the little yard, hidden by the
crenellated battlement, till they were about five-and-twenty feet from
where the men were carrying on their attack.

"Light it, and chuck it among 'em," whispered Dummy, but he proceeded
with system. "Put t'other inside the doorway," he whispered. "Don't
want that to go off too."

Mark obeyed, and returned unseen by those below, or the party defending
the hall-door, to find that his companion, used to seeing such things
done, had cut a little hole in the side of the powder-bag, inserted a
piece of the fuse, and thrust the rest in his pocket.

"Here, you hold the end of the string up," whispered Dummy; and there
was a rattling noise, as he took out the flint and steel he was
carrying.

A cold chill ran through Mark.

"Mind," he whispered; "you'll blow us to pieces."

"Nay, I won't," said the lad, between his teeth. "You hold the thing in
your hands; open it out a bit. I won't send no sparks nigh the powder.
Aren't afeared, are you?"

"No," said Mark, setting his teeth; and stooping down, he screened the
bag by passing the fuse between his knees, holding the frayed-out end
ready while Dummy made a low clicking noise, and cleverly sent a shower
of sparks down upon the prepared hemp.

It caught directly, and began to sparkle and sputter, Mark holding it
firmly, but feeling as if he were the victim of some horrible nightmare
dream.

"That's the way," said Dummy, coolly replacing the flint and steel. "It
won't go off yet. I want it to burn till it's nearly ready, and then
heave it down right amongst 'em. Make some on 'em squint."

"Throw it--throw it," panted Mark hoarsely.

"Nay, not yet. They'd see it burning, and tread it out. Here, you let
me have it. I'll hold it to the last