“Once more,” cried Sir Edward, who still hesitated to proceed to the sternest measures; “will you give up your prisoners and surrender?”
“Bah! Laugh at him, boys,” cried the same hoarse voice: and another derisive yell arose.
“Out with you, my lads,” cried Sir Edward; and his men sprang over the wall again.
“You too, Mark,” said Sir Edward; and Mark followed, while Dan Rugg came close up with his bag of powder and fuse carefully tied in.
“Lay it as near as you can, so as to be out of reach of the pikes.”
“No good, Sir Edward,” said the man in a husky whisper. “Out with you. I’m going to light the fuse, and go right close, and heave it in over their pikes.”
“But that is too dangerous for you.”
“Not it. I know to a quarter of a minute when it will fire, and I shall hold it till then. That’ll give me time to jump the wall. Quick, sir, please.”
It was no time for hesitation, and feeling that his old servant at the mine could be trusted, Sir Edward climbed the wall, and Dummy, showing his teeth in a satisfied grin, opened the door of the lantern.
The next moment Dan had held the end of the short fuse he had provided to the candle, and a slight spluttering began.