But the next moment he lost his footing, and with a cry, tumbled right down to the bottom, on to the body of the unfortunate orphan.
Luckily, it was not very far to fall, and Mr. Mole was very little hurt, though Figgins got the worst of it.
"Now, boys, down you go," cried Jack. "Hark! they are battering down the gate with artillery."
At that moment a ball tore through the doorway, shattered the top of the barricade, and at length lodged in the solid masonry.
Yells of triumph broke from the Turks.
"Quick! Tinker, Bogey, for your lives!" cried Jack.
"Is it that we are to desart ye!" cried the Irish diver. "No, Mr. Jack, I'll see you down first."
"Please make haste," said Jack almost imploringly. "Of course I shall save myself; but I'm the captain, you know, and I mustn't leave the ship till the last."
Thus reassured, the rest descended, and no sooner was the last safe in the vault, than Jack Harkaway shut down the stone in its place, thus closing the opening.
Then he hastily laid earth in the interstices round it, and tried to efface all signs of its having been recently removed.