"I shall be there, Master Mark," replied the old miner; and the two lads returned to daylight, along the passages sparkling with crystals and bits of ore. Meanwhile, Ralph was as busy arranging with the retainers at Cliff Castle, and as soon as he had taken Nick Garth into his confidence, that gentleman lay down on the ground, and hid his face. "Why, what does that mean?" cried the lad. "Couldn't help it, sir. 'Bliged to, or I should have shouted for joy. Get seven more? Have a dozen, sir, or twenty. Every man-jack'll want to go." "No: seven," said Ralph firmly. "There'll be nine from the Black Tor, so we shall be eighteen." "What! nine o' them coming to help, Master Ralph!" cried Nick, whose jaw dropped in his astonishment. "Yes: they are as much at enmity with the rascals as we are." "But, Master Ralph--" "Now, no arguing, Nick; do as I tell you. Get Ram Jennings, and six men who have been injured by the gang, and I'll have swords and pikes ready at ten. Not a word to a soul." "Isn't the chief coming?" "No: I am the chief to-night, and my father will not know." "But what'll he say to me?" "Nothing. I take all the blame." "But he'll be mad about our going with a lot o' Black Torers." "I tell you I am answerable for everything." "Yes, but--" "Look here, Nick: do you want to rout out Captain Purlrose and his gang?" "Do I want to, Master Ralph? Do I want to get his head under a stone, and sarve it like I would a nut? Yes, I doos." "Then pick the men. Bind them to be silent, and meet me as soon as the lights are all out. Will you do this?" "Won't I?" said the man exultantly; "and won't we?--Master Ralph, sir, I am proud on you.--Well, this is going to be a treat! But, say, Master Ralph, will them Edens fight 'longside of us without being nasty?" "Yes, because it's against a common enemy," said the lad. "Common? They just are, sir. Commonest muck o' men. Fit for nothing but putting under ground. Why, how I should like to take my old mother with us, and let her loose at that there captain. I wouldn't give much for his chance. Shall I tell her?" "No!" cried Ralph. "Not a soul. Everything must be done in secret, and the rascals up at Ergles taken by surprise." "You trust me, Master Ralph," said the man; "and when Master Captain Purlrose finds who's come, he will be surprised. We'll hang him for a scarecrow at once, of course?" "No: bring him here a prisoner, and my father will settle that." "Very well, sir. We'll take him, dead or alive oh; but if I had my way, I'd like to turn him over to my mother and all the women him and his have robbed. Why, do you know, sir, night afore last the beggars carried off a pickle-tub and two feather beds. And they call themselves men."