“Sixteen and ourselves would be plenty.”
“And then there’s Master Rayburn.”
“No,” said Ralph quickly; “he’s getting a very old man, and I don’t think he ought to go. Let’s do it all secretly, and make the men vow not to say a word. Nobody else must know.”
“When would you go?” said Mark, nodding his head in agreement.
“They say you should always strike when the iron is hot.”
“Well, it’s hot enough now,” cried Mark eagerly. “What do you say to to-morrow night.”
“Why not to-night?” said Ralph. “I’m willing. Then we’ll go to-night. What time?”
“It ought to be after our people are gone to bed. We should have to come out unknown.”
“Yes, I forgot that. Then it would have to be ten o’clock first, and it would take us quite an hour to get quietly up to the mouth of the cave.”
“Yes, with a lantern under a cloak, and every man a torch,” said Ralph.