“We have them now, Mark,” he cried. “Pass the word there for Daniel Rugg.”
But a low growl on the other side of the wall told that there was no need to pass any word. As soon as he saw that there was a chance for the next step, Dan had signed to Dummy, who trotted forward with lantern, fuse, and powder-bag, and father and son climbed into the little fort a few feet away from the opening into the cavern.
“Silence!” roared Sir Edward now—“you within there, lay down your arms, and march out at once.”
A defiant yell came from the holders of the pikes, enraging Nick Garth to such an extent that he picked up a block of stone from the top of the breastwork, raised it above his head, and dashed it into the doorway, Ram Jennings following suit with another.
The stones crashed in among the pikes with plenty of rattling, and a burst of yells followed as the men picked up a couple more.
“Stop, there,” cried Sir Edward sternly. “You can do no good, and I want the wall left sound for our own protection.”
Nick growled savagely, but he obeyed, and the men all stood fast at the cavern’s mouth with presented pikes, ready to attack if any movement was made by the defenders, while Dan Rugg and his son quickly prepared their missile.
“Ready,” shouted Dan from where he stood inside the wall with, his back to the men, and with Dummy looking intensely interested standing ready with the lantern.
“You, in there,” cried Sir Edward now, “will you surrender?”
“No,” cried a hoarse voice from inside. “Go back with your ragged pack of hungry hounds, or we’ll come and burn you out as we did the other idiot.”