the authorities?"

Already they were in the house, and the door was securely fastened.
Fawkes laid aside some of his cautiousness.

"Friend Robert is a faithful man," said he, turning to his companions
and speaking with much significance; "therefore have I entered into an
agreement with him, that I, being under contract to the Spanish
ambassador to convey certain barrels of gunpowder into Flanders, he
should guard them till the time be ripe for loading into such vessels
as will carry them to the ship which I have hired."

"Then," replied Winter, taking from his wallet a gold piece and
tendering it to Keyes, "he will accept this token which, I warrant,
will be increased by others of its kind if his diligence pleaseth
thee."

On seeing the gold the man's ill temper vanished. "Good gentlemen,"
cried he, seizing eagerly the coin, "I spoke but hastily."

"That we know," said Winter, "and, perchance we, had we been so rudely
awakened, would have done as thou didst. Hath any disturbed thee
during thy guardianship?"

"None, save a few drunken braggarts who found their way hither, and
would have battered in the door. Did any come whose wits were sharper
than their caution, I would have----"

"What?" asked Fawkes pointedly, as the speaker hesitated.

"Faith!" replied Keyes, "being a poor man, and a bag of gold pieces
forthcoming upon the safe loading of this devil's face powder onto
the Spanish vessel, 'twould be but just, that did any seek to cheat me
of it--well, the river tells no tales; what think ye, gentlemen?"

Percy shuddered; Winter pressed his hand. "Nay, good Percy," he
whispered, "'tis scarce like to happen, yet even so, we would be but
instruments in the hand of God."

During this conversation Fawkes, who seemed to be familiar with the
house, had led his companions into a small apartment whose window
overlooked the river which, washing against the stone foundation of
the dwelling, offered a safe retreat did any, bent upon trouble
making, force the street door.

Winter and Percy glanced about them. The place was bare save for a
rude cot, a shaky table upon which flickered an iron-bound lantern,
and a small chest that, did occasion require, could be placed against
the narrow door. At a sign from Fawkes, Keyes drew aside the bed,
disclosing in the floor the outlines of a trap door, which covered an
opening to the cellar beneath. Stooping, he raised the heavy cover,
revealing the top rounds of a rude ladder