hrough
Nigel's mind, but another came swiftly behind it. He would not venture
further unless he found hopes of success. And if he did venture further
he would put his life upon it. Giving that, he made amends for all
errors. And if on the other hand success crowned their efforts, then
Knolles would forgive his failure at the gateway. A minute later, every
doubt banished from his mind, he was making his way through the darkness
under the guidance of Black Simon.

Outside the camp the two other men-at-arms were waiting for them, and
the four advanced together. Presently a little group of figures loomed
up in the darkness. It was a cloudy night, and a thin rain was falling
which obscured both the castle and the fort; but a stone had been placed
by Simon in the daytime which assured that they were between the two.

"Is blind Andreas there?" asked Simon.

"Yes, kind sir, I am here," said a voice.

"This man," said Simon, "was once rich and of good repute, but he was
beggared by this robber lord, who afterwards put out his eyes so that he
has lived for many years in darkness at the charity of others."

"How can he help us in our enterprise if he be indeed blind?" asked
Nigel.

"It is for that very reason, fair lord, that he can be of greater
service than any other man," Simon answered; "for it often happens that
when a man has lost a sense the good God will strengthen those that
remain. Hence it is that Andreas has such ears that he can hear the sap
in the trees or the cheep of the mouse in its burrow. He has come to
help us to find the tunnel."

"And I have found it," said the blind man proudly. "Here I have placed
my staff upon the line of it. Twice as I lay there with my ear to the
ground I have heard footsteps pass beneath me."

"I trust you make no mistake, old man," said Nigel.

For answer the blind man raised his staff and smote twice upon the
ground, once to the right and once to the left. The one gave a dull
thud, the other a hollow boom.

"Can you not hear that?" he asked. "Will you ask me now if I make a
mistake?"

"Indeed, we are much beholden to you!" cried Nigel. "Let the peasants
dig then, and as silently as they may. Do you keep your ear upon the
ground, Andreas, so that if anyone pass beneath us we shall be warned."

So, amid the driving rain, the little group toiled in the darkness.
The blind man lay silent, flat upon his face, and twice they heard his
warning hiss and stopped their work, whil