to be sent
staggering back by a heavy blow.

It was Sir Edward's turn to rush to his son, and he too reeled as he
received a thrust, but in the case of both, the pike-thrusts did not
penetrate their clothes, the point of the weapon having been turned,
unknown to the man who used it, by a thrust against the rock.

It was a warning, and throwing the light of the torches well upon the
built-up wall, a couple of the men found the holes through which the
thrusts had been made, and advancing cautiously to send their pikes
through, had to leap back again, for the enemy thrust at them. Nick
struck in turn, though, and a yell of pain told that it was not without
effect.

"Keep back," cried Sir Edward, as his men advanced recklessly, and when
the wounded man had been drawn away and carried out, after a rough
bandage had been applied to his wound, Sir Edward turned to his son.

"You must be hurt, my boy," he whispered.

"I was, father, horribly."

"But I mean wounded."

"Only my doublet," said the lad merrily. "What are we to do now?"

After a few moments' thought, as Nick Garth had been so able, Sir Edward
decided to let him try again, which he eagerly did, feigning so as to
draw a thrust from the enemy, and darting aside and close up to the
wall. Then, as the man withdrew his pike, Nick, holding his own short,
thrust it through after it, and again there was a yell of pain, but
almost at the same moment Ram Jennings was just reached by a thrust
through another hole, and sprang back, roaring like a wild beast.

"Yah! don't howl like that," cried Nick angrily; "do as I do."

But poor Ram Jennings preferred to stand nursing his injured arm, and
watching his fellow ramming away with his pike, as if loading a gun,
till suddenly it was jerked out of his hand, and drawn through the wall.

"Look at that," he growled. "Here, give's hold of another."

But Sir Edward ordered him back.

"It's of no use, my lad," he cried; "come away."

"All very well to say come away, captain," growled the man, as he stood
close up, "but if I stir, I shall get a hole through me."

Sir Edward saw the man's difficult position, and gave an order in a low
tone, when every man bearing a light ran back and round one of the
corners, leaving the cavern in darkness.

Nick took advantage thereof, and sprang away from his perilous position.
The rattle of a pike-staff against the stones told that a thrust had
been made at him in the darkness.

"