In a few moments, however, the house and stables were set fire to, and the Skeleton Crew, sure of consuming their foes, danced round and round in wild, unearthly joy.
“Oh! heaven protect us!” the innkeeper gasped. “We shall all be blown up.”
“What!” said Ned, never for a moment losing either coolness or courage.
“Blown up, Mr. Warbeck,” said the host. “I have a hundred pounds of powder in a cellar which is situated a few yards before the front door.”
“One hundred pounds of powder?” said Bob.
“Yes.”
“How came it here?”
“Lieutenant Garnet and a party of sailors found it on the beach not many weeks ago. It was destined for the Skeleton Crew, but Lieutenant Garnet placed it here, saying he would call and remove it soon.”
“That’s just the thing we want,” said Ned, in high glee.
In a few moments, Bob and Wildfire Ned descended into the cellar described, and, after putting a slow match to the barrel, firmly closed the cellar-door, and returned again to the room above.