"Ay, Master Mark; that's it, and then send another bag in before us, and
fire that, and go on doing it till we've either blasted 'em all out of
the place or made 'em so sick and sorry that they'll cry surrender."

The hours glided by, as it seemed to Mark, very slowly, till the time
appointed for starting approached; and, after a final glance at Ralph,
he was coming down, when Master Rayburn followed him.

"I should like to come with you, Mark, my boy," he said gravely, "but my
place is here. Heaven grant that you may be successful; and if you
are," he said meaningly, "there will be peace in our vale."

Mark pressed his hand, buckled on his sword, and went down into the yard
to join his father, who was giving final instructions to the wounded men
about keeping the gates fast during their absence, not that an attack
was expected, but "to make assurance doubly sure."

While he was giving his last instructions, Dummy came running over the
bridge, and trotted up to Sir Edward.

"Well, boy, could you see anything?"

"Yes," replied Dummy, with a sharp nod of the head. "You can see two,
if you go far enough, one on each side of the hill, keeping a look out."

"Did they see you?"

"Nay, I was a-creeping among the bushes."

"Then it is of no use to try and get up unobserved, Mark," said Sir
Edward, quietly. "It must be a bold open attack."

He turned and said a few words to Sir Morton Darley's men, Nick and the
rest, after having had their injuries tended, and a few hours' rest and
refreshment, looking far better prepared for the encounter, and falling
into their places with sullen determination.

Mark, at a word from his father, marched up alongside of Nick Garth, who
gave him a surly nod, and seemed to be about to speak, but checked
himself, and then let his curiosity master him.

"What ha' they got in them baskets?" he said, nodding to a couple strung
from poles, and each hanging from two men's shoulders, "bread and
cheese?"

"No: blasting-powder."

"Eh? What for?" said the man, staring.

"Blow out the cavern," said Mark quietly.

The man uttered a low long whistle, and then a grim smile covered his
face.

"Hah!" he whispered, "that does a man good, young Eden! I was coming,
and I meant to fight till I dropped; but after what we tried to do, I
knew they'd be too many for us; but I begin to see my way now."

"Yes, they don't like the powder," said Mark. "We made them run with it
when they attacked u