"Now, let us try it."
Keeping close to the wall, they crept to the gateway. This projected two feet beyond the gate itself, and standing against the latter they could not be seen, even in the unlikely event of one of the sentries looking down. The only risk was of anyone in the guard house coming out. This, however, could not be avoided, and they at once began to examine the fastenings of the gate, which consisted of two massive bars of wood, running across it. These, by their united strength, they removed one after another. But when they tried it, they found the gate still immovable.
"The beastly thing is locked," Dick said. "There is nothing to do, but to blow it open."
He broke off the ends of three cartridges, poured the powder in at the keyhole, and then inserted the slow match.
"Stand in the corner there, Surajah. I will go down to the stream again, to light the tinder. The noise is less likely to be heard there."
He stole back again, sat down at the edge of the water, placed his tinder box in his lap, took his turban off and put it over his hands, so as to deaden the sound, and then struck the steel sharply against the flint. The first blow was successful. The spark fell on the tinder, and at once began to extend.
He listened intently. The men on the wall were still talking, and the sound had evidently not reached their ears.
[Chapter 7]: Besieged.
Dick hastily clambered up the wall, ran to the gate, blew the tinder, and then applied it to the slow match. A moment later, this began to fizz.
"Round the corner of the wall, Surajah!" he exclaimed, running back himself.