There was a murmur of excitement among the men, and then Gurr leaned down over the hole, put his hand to his mouth, and shouted,—
“Below there! In the King’s name—surrender!”
His words went rolling and echoing through the place, but there was no reply.
“Once more, my lads, to save bloodshed, will you surrender?”
No reply.
“Very well. It’s your fault, my lads, and very onsensible. Bo’s’n, it’s a big place, and I shall want all my men. You’re all right here; with one you ought to be able to hold this.”
“And the prisoner?”
“No; we’ll take him with us. Here, lash his hands behind him, and tie his legs together. We’ll lay him down to have a nap somewhere yonder down below. That’s right,” he continued, as a man produced a piece of line, and firmly secured the boy, who was lowered down to one of the men who had descended, laid on the stones in a corner at the bottom; and then, after giving the word to be ready, Gurr braced himself up.
“You’ll stop aside me, Mr Raystoke, and try and guide.”
“Yes, sir.”