Black Tor: A Tale of the Reign of James the First

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  JUST IN TIME.

  All at once Dummy Rugg uttered a peculiar snort, and started up in asitting position, with the thought still fresh in his brain that he mustrouse up Mark from his nap.

  But all was dark, and there was the gurgling rush of the water below."Why, I've been asleep," muttered the lad excitedly. "Think o' me doingthat!"

  He rose quickly, and felt for the crack in which he had stuck thecandles, narrowly escaping a plunge into the little pool from which hehad drunk.

  He found the spot where the candles had been, both of them; he couldfeel it by the size, and knew it by the shape, for it grew smaller ateach extremity, so that he had been able to wedge the ends of thecandles tight.

  Yes: there was no doubt about it. Both candles, as if to be in fashionwith the stony drippings of the cavern, had run down a little, to formtiny stalagmites of grease.

  "Burnt right out," muttered Dummy, still more excitedly. "Why, I mayha' been asleep for hours."

  Thrusting his hand into his breast, there was a faint rattle as he drewout tinder-box and match, and then felt for a candle in the box he hadcarried slung by a strap from the shoulder, and laid it ready.

  The next minute he was nicking a piece of flint against the steel,striking sparks down into the box, and at the second sharp click Markstarted awake.

  "Yes! What is it?" he cried--"Where am I?"

  "On'y here, Master Mark," replied the boy. "Candle's gone out."

  "Why, Dummy! Have we been to sleep?"

  "I s'pose so, Master Mark. Po-o-o-o-f-f-uf! There we are!"

  He had obtained a light, the match burning up brightly, and then thecandle, after the fluffy wick had been burnt and blown.

  "How tiresome! I don't know, though. I feel rested."

  "Being up all last night, I s'pose," said Dummy, as he stuck the candlein the crack.

  "Yes, of course; that's it. Think we've been asleep long?"

  "I dunno. Fear'd so."

  "Let's go back, then, at once," said Mark, springing to his feet. "Why,we may have been asleep for hours. Light another candle, and let's getback."

  "Right, Master Mark. Well, it don't much matter, for we hadn't nothingto do."

  The second candle was lit, and stuck in the rough wooden carrying-stick,the other was taken from the crack in the stone and treated the same.

  "Won't go no furrer, then, Master Mark?" said the boy.

  "No, not to-day," said Mark decisively, as he looked round the chamber,and then stooped to take a draught of the clear water, an example Dummyfollowed.

  "Ready, Master Mark?"

  "Yes, lead on. But which way?"

  "Don't you know, sir?" said Dummy grinning.

  "Haven't the least idea. Have you?"

  "Yes, sir. This way. I know."

  "But are you sure you are right?"

  "Ay, this is right."

  "Then you have been there before?"

  "Nay, never; but I can feel that's right," and he pointed in theopposite direction to that which Mark felt they ought to take.

  "Forward, then, and let's get out as quick as we can."

  "Yes, but it'll take some time;" and the boy led on.

  "Why, Dummy," cried Mark, suddenly, "we must have slept for hours andhours."

  "How do you know, sir?"

  "Why, I can feel."

  "In your head, like, sir?" said Dummy eagerly.

  "Head? No: somewhere else," cried Mark, laughing. "I am half-starved."

  A good three hours must have elapsed before, after a weary climb andtramp, and when the last candle had been lit, the two lads emerged frombehind the stony veil into the grotto-like place that had deceived MarkEden.

  "Don't matter about candles now, Master Mark," said Dummy; "I could findmy way out ready enough by touching the wall with one hand."

  "Well, make haste and let's get out; I don't want to be in fresh troublethrough stopping so long. I believe it's supper-time."

  "Yes, Master Mark," replied the boy, "and so do I."

  They had still a long way to go, but once past the veil of stalactite,they began to enter the workings with the passages and chamberspossessing fairly level floors, made for the convenience of transportingthe ore to the mouth of the mine. The walking then became comparativelyeasy, but Mark's weariness was on the increase, and there were momentswhen the faint glow of light which spread around Dummy, as he walked infront, grew misty and strange, playing fantastic tricks to theobserver's eye: now it seemed close to him; now it and the blacksilhouette it formed of the bearer's body appeared to be far-off, and todie away in the distance, but only to return again with a sudden jerk,as Mark started and tried to step out more firmly.

  At these moments, his own candle having burned out, Mark watched theshadow of his companion dancing about, now on the floor, now on theceiling or on either side, looking grotesque and goblin-like for a fewmoments, and then dying out again and causing the lad to start, as hefelt in a dreamy way that he was being left behind, though on recoveringhis fleeting senses it was only to find that Dummy was almost withintouch.

  This had been going on for some time, when Mark spoke:

  "I say, don't go right away and leave me, Dummy."

  "Who's a-going to?" said the boy, looking round in surprise.

  "I know you wouldn't on purpose, but keep looking round. I can't keepawake. My legs do, but all the rest goes to sleep, and I begin gettingin a muddle."

  "Oh, we shall soon be out now," said the boy laughing.

  "Soon be out! I never knew the place was so big before. Keep lookingback to see that I don't drop down fast asleep."

  "I'd make you go first," said Dummy, "but you don't know the way."

  "No: keep on as you are, and make haste."

  "Can't: must go steady, because of the candle."

  "Oh dear!" sighed Mark. "I am so sleepy, and it's beginning to get downbelow my belt, to where my leg was hurt."

  "No, no, don't you think that," cried Dummy. "Let's keep on talking."

  "Yes," said Mark, jumping at the proposal. "Let's keep talking--Who areyou laughing at?"

  "You, Master Mark. You are sleepy. 'Tarn't far, now. Fresh air'llsoon rouse you."

  There was no reply, and as the boy glanced back he could see that hiscompanion was beginning to reel about like a drunken man, and that hiseyes had a peculiar dull, fixed look.

  The next minute the lids drooped, and he walked on as if that which hehad said was quite true--that all was fast asleep but the legs, whichwent on automatically, and supported their load.

  "With a fal, lal-lal, lal-lalla, lalla, la!" yelled Dummy, notunmusically; and it had its effect, for Mark sprang at him, and caughthim by the shoulder.

  "What was that?" he cried excitedly.

  "On'y me singing, Master Mark. Soon be out now."

  "That's what you keep on saying," cried the lad, pettishly. "I don'tbelieve we're going right. You've taken a wrong turning by mistake.Here, I can't go any farther, Dummy. I must lie down and go to sleepagain. It's horrible to keep on like this. I know I shall fall."

  "You do, and I'll stick a pin in you," said the boy roughly.

  "What!"

  "I'm not going to have you fall asleep again. Come, rouse up, MasterMark; I'm ashamed of you. For two pins I'd hit you over the head."

  "What!" cried Mark, in an access of passion; "why, you ugly big-headedmole, how dare you speak to me like that?"

  "'Cause I like," cried Dummy sharply. "Talking of going to deep, like agreat gal. Yah! Gen'lemen aren't no use. Never do have no legs."

  "You insolent dog!" roared Mark, leaping at him, and striking the boytwice heavily on the back, with the result that the one candle wasjerked out of the stick he carried, to fly forward on to the floor,flicker for a moment or two, and then, before it could be seized, goout, and with it Mark's bit of passion.

  "Oh!" he cried, as he stood fast in the darkness.

  "There, you've d
one it now," cried Dummy, in mock tones of horror.

  "Yes, be quick; get out the flint and steel."

  "What for?"

  "To get a light."

  "For you to begin knocking me about again."

  "No, no, Dummy; I won't touch you again. It was your fault: you made meso cross."

  "All right, Master Mark," said the boy, with a good-humoured laugh. "Ionly did it o' purpose to wake you up, and it has. I don't mind whatyou did. Don't feel sleepy now, do you?"

  "No, no, I'm quite awake. The drowsy feeling has gone off. Come, lightthe candle."

  "Shan't now," replied Dummy. "We're only a little way off now, and Ican manage."

  "But are you sure?"

  "Oh yes, I'm sure enough, Master Mark. Wait a minute."

  "Yes. What are you going to do?"

  "Only unloose a few rings of this line we brought."

  "What for? If you play me any tricks now we're in the dark, I'll--"

  "Who's going to play any tricks?" grumbled the boy. "Men don't playtricks. Here, kitch holt: now you can follow me, and feel me, if youkeep the rope tight, and won't go hitting yourself again the wall."

  Mark grasped the end of the rope handed to him, and they started forwardin the intense blackness, the novelty and sense of shrinking soonpassing off, and the lad feeling more and more confidence in his leader.

  "Don't feel a bit sleepy now, do you?" asked Dummy.

  "Not in the least. I say, are you sure that you can go on withouttaking a wrong turning?"

  "Oh yes, I'm right enough, Master Mark."

  "How far is it now?"

  "On'y 'bout fifty fathom or so. We're just getting to the rise."

  "Then we--no, you're wrong. We can't be. Why, if we were so near themouth we should see daylight."

  "What! in the middle o' the night? Not you."

  "What! You don't think it's so late as that?"

  "Yes, I do. It's past twelve o'clock, if it's a minute."

  "Then we must have slept a very long time below there."

  "Hours upon hours," said Dummy, chuckling.

  "Hark! What's that?" said Mark excitedly.

  "Shouting," said the boy, after listening. "My! they are making a rowabout it. They're coming to fetch us, because we've been so long."

  The two lads were still making for the mouth of the mine, and were nowascending the rough steps, to pause by the stone shed inside theentrance, where tools, gunpowder for blasting, and several kinds oftackle were kept, in among the candles and torches.

  "Here, Dummy," cried Mark excitedly, as the noise outside and above themincreased, "what does this mean? They're fighting!"

  "Fighting?" cried the boy excitedly.

  "Yes, what can it mean?"

  "Mean, Master Mark? I can tell you. It's the Darleys come at last totake our place. Oh, why didn't I kill young Ralph that night when Ifollowed him home through the wood?"

  "You did what?"

  "Followed him. I wasn't sure he'd been trying to kill you, or I would."

  "Come along, and don't talk," whispered Mark excitedly. "Ah! I have nosword."

  "Got a pick in your belt, and so have I."

  "You'll stand by me, Dummy?"

  "Won't I, Master Mark! I want to get a hit at some of 'em. You won'tstop me, will you, to-night?"

  "If they've come and attacked us, no. Hush, quiet! Let's steal outfirst, and see."

  The night was very dark as they left the mouth of the mine, but aftertheir late experience it seemed to both to be comparatively light, andwith Mark now armed with the miner's pick, which he felt would be a goodsubstitute for a battle-axe, they hurried up the steps, with the noiseabove increasing, but seeming to be over on the other side of the littlecastle. A minute or two later they had reached the platform which ledto their right over the narrow natural bridge, to the left, through thegateway into the first courtyard. This was empty, and they ran lightlyacross it, to find that the encounter was going on beyond the secondgateway, which led into the little inner courtyard, surrounded by thedwelling-house portion of the castle. Both gateways were furnished withmeans of defence, the outer having an iron grille of heavy crossed bars,while the second had folding doors of massive oak, with a wicket forordinary use in the lower part of one of the folds. But in spite of theenmity between the two families, little heed had of late been given tothe defences. Sir Edward had considered that the outer gate at the endof the natural bridge was sufficient, as there was so little likelihoodof an attack without warning; and, as far as Mark could make out, itseemed that under cover of the darkness the enemy had crossed the bridgeand forced the gate under the little towers, when the rest would be easyfor them. They had only had to pass through the first courtyard, andwere now in the lesser or inner court, evidently trying to batter downthe entrance door into the hall.

  They must have begun their work before Sir Edward and his people werealarmed; but how long before it was impossible to tell. What met theeyes of the two lads now was an armed group trying to batter in thegreat door by means of a beam they had brought up into the yard, whileothers, armed with pikes, guarded their companions, upon whom missilesof all kinds were being dashed down from above, and thrusts were beingmade with other pikes from the windows which flanked or overhung thedoor.

  "The Darleys," whispered Dummy, as they peered together round the innercorner of the gateway dividing the two courts.

  "In with it, boys!" roared a hoarse voice; and they dimly made out aheavy figure standing in the shelter of the wall.

  "Captain Purlrose and his gang," whispered back Mark huskily. "I wonderhow many men my father has in there."

  "They were going over to Dexham for a holiday, all but them as washurt," whispered Dummy. "Come on and help, or the robbers'll get in."

  A pang shot through Mark, and he grasped the handle of his pick firmly,ready for a dash, but the feeling that it would be utter madness kepthim back. For he knew that even if he could strike down two of theattacking party, they must succumb to the others, and they would havedone no good.

  It was all plain enough. Purlrose must have gained the information thatthe mine people were away, and that Sir Edward would be almost withoutdefenders, and, out of revenge for the previous night's attack, haveseized the opportunity for a reprisal.

  "Why, Dummy," he whispered, with his lips close to the other's ear, "ifthey take the castle, they'll keep it, and turn us out."

  "Yes, and grab the mine," said the boy hoarsely. "Well, we mustn't let'em."

  _Bang_, _bang_, came the reports of a couple of arquebuses from one ofthe windows, but no harm was done, and the men answered with a derisivecheer and continued their battering of the door, which still resistedtheir efforts.

  Another shot was fired, but still without effect, and Mark ground histeeth together as he felt the impotency of his father's efforts now thatthe enemy had stolen in beyond the gates that would have been admirablefor defence.

  "Well, aren't you going to do something, Master Mark?"

  "What can I do, Dummy?" cried the lad, in despair. "We might shut thesegates, and defend them."

  "Yes, so we could; but what's the good?"

  Just then there was a quick flash and a sharp roar close to the doorway,and in the bright light the lads saw the men drop the beam and run back;but no one was hurt, and in answer to a roar of orders from theirleader, the enemy seized the beam again and began to drive it againstthe centre of the great door.

  "Running away from that," roared Purlrose; "handful of powder rolled upin a bag and thrown at you! Down with it! they've got no more."

  "Yes, they have," whispered Dummy, excitedly. "Here, Master Mark,quick!"

  Mark grasped the idea, without explanation, and ran back with hiscompanion, leaving the shouting, cursing, and firing behind, to descendwith him to the mouth of the mine, and then downward to the big stoneshed, where Dummy tore open the great oaken closet, and drew out a bagof the coarse blasting-powder used in the mine.


  "Feel in that box, Master Mark; that's it. You know. The fuse cord."

  Mark had a roll of loose twisted hemp soaked in saltpetre and powder outof the box directly, and armed with a powder-bag each, they hurriedtrembling back, to reach the gateway, peer round the corner, and seethat the attack was going on as fiercely as ever, while the defence wasvery weak, and they knew that before long the door must yield. In fact,amidst a burst of cheers, a hole had been already driven through, to bemade use of by the defenders for sending thrusts out with their pikes.

  "Up with you," whispered Mark, and the two lads hurried up a littlewinding staircase on to the top of the inner gate-tower, from whencethey could go along one side of the little yard, hidden by thecrenellated battlement, till they were about five-and-twenty feet fromwhere the men were carrying on their attack.

  "Light it, and chuck it among 'em," whispered Dummy, but he proceededwith system. "Put t'other inside the doorway," he whispered. "Don'twant that to go off too."

  Mark obeyed, and returned unseen by those below, or the party defendingthe hall-door, to find that his companion, used to seeing such thingsdone, had cut a little hole in the side of the powder-bag, inserted apiece of the fuse, and thrust the rest in his pocket.

  "Here, you hold the end of the string up," whispered Dummy; and therewas a rattling noise, as he took out the flint and steel he wascarrying.

  A cold chill ran through Mark.

  "Mind," he whispered; "you'll blow us to pieces."

  "Nay, I won't," said the lad, between his teeth. "You hold the thing inyour hands; open it out a bit. I won't send no sparks nigh the powder.Aren't afeared, are you?"

  "No," said Mark, setting his teeth; and stooping down, he screened thebag by passing the fuse between his knees, holding the frayed-out endready while Dummy made a low clicking noise, and cleverly sent a showerof sparks down upon the prepared hemp.

  It caught directly, and began to sparkle and sputter, Mark holding itfirmly, but feeling as if he were the victim of some horrible nightmaredream.

  "That's the way," said Dummy, coolly replacing the flint and steel. "Itwon't go off yet. I want it to burn till it's nearly ready, and thenheave it down right amongst 'em. Make some on 'em squint."

  "Throw it--throw it," panted Mark hoarsely.

  "Nay, not yet. They'd see it burning, and tread it out. Here, you letme have it. I'll hold it to the last minute, and when I throw, you duckyourself down, or you might get burnt."

  Dummy took hold of the burning cord with his left hand, the bag with hisright, pressing his companion out of the road, and then standingtwitching the sparkling fuse, which was only a few inches away from thepowder in the bag.

  "I've often seen it done," he whispered.

  A shout came up from the little court, for the followers of CaptainPurlrose had again driven their battering ram through the great door,and a shout of defiance came back from the hall from a few voices, amongwhich Mark recognised his father's; but he could not turn from thatsparkling piece of line to glance over the stony battlement to see whatwas being done. His eyes were fascinated, and nothing could havewithdrawn them then.

  He had proved again and again that he was no coward, but a great terrorchained him now, and his voice trembled as he panted out:

  "Quick--quick; throw--throw!"

  "Nay, not yet. I'm watching of it. Father always waits till there'son'y about an inch, to make sure it'll go off."

  There was not much more as he spoke, and just then, in obedience to anorder from their captain, the men drew back from the doorway, balancingthe beam swung between them, as, four on each side now, it hung fromtheir hands, and backing till they were past the spot where the pairwere crouching.

  "Now, all together, my brave boys," cried Purlrose; "a good run, anddown goes the door. Off!"

  The order answered for Dummy as well as the men, and feeling now that hehad waited too long, the boy swung the bag over the battlement. Thepassage through the air increased the sparkling of the fuse, and beforeit touched the pavement, a few feet in front of the men starting fortheir run, there was a wondrous flash of light, a fierce wind drove thetwo lads backward, and then came a deafening roar, mingled with thebreaking of glass, a yell of horror, and as the roof still quiveredbeneath the lads' feet they heard the rush of men through the gateway,across the next court, and through the outer opening on to the bridge,and then down the first slope.

  "Come on!" cried Dummy, running to the low doorway of the gate-tower,where he picked up the other powder-bag, and, hardly knowing what hedid, Mark followed him down the winding stair into the gateway.

  "Come on!" cried Dummy again, and Mark still followed, across the outercourt and the first gateway, grasping the pick from his belt, feelingthat they were about to charge the rear of the flying enemy.

  "Come on," shouted Dummy, for the third time, and they crossed thenarrow space, which brought them to the little tower and gateway by thenatural bridge, where, as Mark closed up, he could hear the babble andgrowl of voices from the bottom of the first slope.

  "Shied it too soon," growled the boy. "I don't believe it's killedone."

  "They're coming back, Dummy," cried Mark, "and the gate's broken awayfrom the hinges."

  "Then they shall have it this time," cried the lad, and cutting a holewith his knife in one corner of the powder-bag, he held it down at oneside behind the massive wall of the little tower, and striding his legs,walked slowly forward till he reached the middle of the bridge, where heplumped the powder-bag down, after leaving a little train of the blackgrains behind him where he walked.

  Then carefully avoiding it, he stepped quickly back to where Mark wasstanding, and took out and handed him the flint and steel.

  "You do it this time," he said. "We shall be in shelter here. I'llwatch and say when."

  Mark took the rough implements, and knelt down by the commencement ofthe train.

  "Hold it close down, quite steady, and give one good nick, and it willset the powder off."

  "Come on, you cowardly dogs," cried a now familiar voice. "There'severything that's good in there, and the place will be ours, I tell you.What, going to be scared by a puff of smoke? The place is our own now.All here?"

  "Ay," came in a growl.

  "Form in good order, three abreast, and charge right across and into theyard. Halt! Steady! To think of running for a flash in the pan!"

  "You ran too," growled a voice.

  "You won't be happy till you're strung up, Hez Bingham," cried thecaptain. "Now then: swords. Steady! Forward!"

  "Now!" whispered Dummy; and as the men tramped on to the bridge fortheir renewed attack, Mark struck the steel with his flint, and a tinyspark or two fell.

  "Quick--another!" whispered Dummy, and the men halted in the middle ofthe bridge.

  "Forward!" shouted the captain from the rear; "what are you haltingfor?"

  "What's this here?" growled one of the men in the first line, for he hadcaught sight of the powder-bag lying in the middle of the pathway, hisquestion taking off his comrades' attention from the two sharp clickswhich came from behind the lesser gateway.

  But they saw a little line of light and smoke running over the stonepaving of the bridge, and with a yell of horror, they turned and fledhurriedly back and down the slope.

  "Don't look!" yelled Dummy, forcing Mark aside, when the flash broughtthe castle and summit of the Black Tor into full view; then there was anawful muffled roar, which went echoing away, and as it died out, the twolads dashed across the bridge to the head of the zigzag descent, to makeout by hearing that the enemy were in full retreat.

  "I think that settled 'em," said Dummy quietly. "You did it fine,Master Mark."

  "Hoi! Who's there?" cried a voice behind them.

  "Dummy Rugg, father."

  "And you, my boy? Thank Heaven! I was afraid something was wrong."

  "Then it was you two with my powder," cried another voice out of thedarkness.

  "Yes, Dan Rugg, an
d a splendid use they made of it," cried Sir Edward."Well done, my lads. But come into shelter; they surprised us, witheverything left open. We must lock the stable door now. Think they'llcome again, Rugg?"

  "Nay, Sir Edward; not to-night. Those explosions will bring our lads upto see what's the matter."

  "Well, secure the gates as we go in."

  Dan Rugg was right. Within half-an-hour a dozen men had come up andbeen admitted, ready to meet the enemy should he return, but the silenceup at the Black Tor was not disturbed again that night.

  "Out of revenge for you boys' attack," said Sir Edward, when he hadheard his son's account of their proceedings in the mine, and Dummy'sclever thought about the powder. "It might have meant the loss of thisplace. But there must be an end to it now. You lads were so handy withthe powder-bags that you shall try your hands upon that wasps' nest, forI can't rest now till I've had it well burnt out. Pity more powder wasnot used this time. I don't believe they were more than singed, andhalf my windows were smashed."

  "But if we had used more powder, father," said Mark, smiling, "we mighthave knocked down the place."