“Yah! don’t howl like that,” cried Nick angrily; “do as I do.”
But poor Ram Jennings preferred to stand nursing his injured arm, and watching his fellow ramming away with his pike, as if loading a gun, till suddenly it was jerked out of his hand, and drawn through the wall.
“Look at that,” he growled. “Here, give’s hold of another.”
But Sir Edward ordered him back.
“It’s of no use, my lad,” he cried; “come away.”
“All very well to say come away, captain,” growled the man, as he stood close up, “but if I stir, I shall get a hole through me.”
Sir Edward saw the man’s difficult position, and gave an order in a low tone, when every man bearing a light ran back and round one of the corners, leaving the cavern in darkness.
Nick took advantage thereof, and sprang away from his perilous position. The rattle of a pike-staff against the stones told that a thrust had been made at him in the darkness.
“Are you hit?” cried Mark anxiously.
“Ay, youngster, but on’y with the staff,” growled Nick; and the order for the lights to be brought back was given and obeyed.