This he did three more times, laying the tins neck to neck, each open, and helping to make a little hill of black grains, while his comrades looked gloomily on. Then, fetching a fifth, he opened it, and laid a zigzag train completely along the cabin floor right to beneath the window, and returned carefully to empty the remainder on the little heap and about the necks of the other tins. Five pounds of gunpowder! Plenty to bring destruction upon all within the cabin, as well as knock out the door and hatch beyond. "There we are, sir," said Tom Fillot, seeking for a box of matches and coolly taking one out. "Now we'll all lie down together when you think it's a good time, and keep our heads close to the floor. The blaze'll go right over us, and you understand, lads, as soon as the blow up comes, we shall all rush out, take 'em by surprise, and capter the schooner. That's right, sir, ain't it?" "Yes, that's right, Tom. Be ready, my lads." "Ay, ay, sir," said the men, coolly; and the black grasped a cutlass as well, looking prepared for anything. "It'll be sharp work, my lads, but we must win." "And we will," said Tom, grimly. "Think I can do better with the powder, sir?" "No; that will be excellent for the purpose," said Mark. "Now give me the box and lie down." "Give you--the box o' matches, sir?" stammered Tom Fillot. "Yes. I shall fire the train." Tom handed over the box unwillingly. "Hadn't I better, sir? You might be burnt." "Well, if I am, what then? Ready, my lads?" whispered Mark. "All is quiet now." "Ay, ay, sir, ready," said the men, as they pressed closely to the floor, holding down their heads for the most part; but Tom Fillot with a face full of anxiety watched. "Then the moment after the explosion spring up and follow me." As Mark spoke he lay down close to the end of the train right beneath the open window, took a match from the box, struck it, and, as it burst into flame, touched the powder, which began to burn along the zigzag train with a peculiar rushing hiss. CHAPTER FORTY. FIRING A TRAIN. A sound like a sigh or the escape of some pent-up emotion came from the little group of prostrate men, all of whom, save the black, knew that the powder might after all, while driving out the cabin door and its barricading, injure, perhaps kill them, in its explosion. But no one flinched, as the schooner careened over in obedience to a turn or two of the wheel, and glided rapidly off on a fresh tack, while the flame of the heavy train ran here and there over the cabin floor, its peculiar hiss suggesting to Mark the idea of a fiery reptile, and the strain of those exciting moments growing till they appeared to be minutes.