as he stood just out of reach of the defenders'
bristling pikes, which effectually barred the way.

"We have them now, Mark," he cried. "Pass the word there for Daniel
Rugg."

But a low growl on the other side of the wall told that there was no
need to pass any word. As soon as he saw that there was a chance for
the next step, Dan had signed to Dummy, who trotted forward with
lantern, fuse, and powder-bag, and father and son climbed into the
little fort a few feet away from the opening into the cavern.

"Silence!" roared Sir Edward now--"you within there, lay down your arms,
and march out at once."

A defiant yell came from the holders of the pikes, enraging Nick Garth
to such an extent that he picked up a block of stone from the top of the
breastwork, raised it above his head, and dashed it into the doorway,
Ram Jennings following suit with another.

The stones crashed in among the pikes with plenty of rattling, and a
burst of yells followed as the men picked up a couple more.

"Stop, there," cried Sir Edward sternly. "You can do no good, and I
want the wall left sound for our own protection."

Nick growled savagely, but he obeyed, and the men all stood fast at the
cavern's mouth with presented pikes, ready to attack if any movement was
made by the defenders, while Dan Rugg and his son quickly prepared their
missile.

"Ready," shouted Dan from where he stood inside the wall with, his back
to the men, and with Dummy looking intensely interested standing ready
with the lantern.

"You, in there," cried Sir Edward now, "will you surrender?"

"No," cried a hoarse voice from inside. "Go back with your ragged pack
of hungry hounds, or we'll come and burn you out as we did the other
idiot."

"Once more," cried Sir Edward, who still hesitated to proceed to the
sternest measures; "will you give up your prisoners and surrender?"

"Bah! Laugh at him, boys," cried the same hoarse voice: and another
derisive yell arose.

"Out with you, my lads," cried Sir Edward; and his men sprang over the
wall again.

"You too, Mark," said Sir Edward; and Mark followed, while Dan Rugg came
close up with his bag of powder and fuse carefully tied in.

"Lay it as near as you can, so as to be out of reach of the pikes."

"No good, Sir Edward," said the man in a husky whisper. "Out with you.
I'm going to light the fuse, and go right close, and heave it in over
their pikes."

"But that is too dangerous for you."

"Not it.