"Now!" whispered Dummy; and as the men tramped on to the bridge for their renewed attack, Mark struck the steel with his flint, and a tiny spark or two fell. "Quick--another!" whispered Dummy, and the men halted in the middle of the bridge. "Forward!" shouted the captain from the rear; "what are you halting for?" "What's this here?" growled one of the men in the first line, for he had caught sight of the powder-bag lying in the middle of the pathway, his question taking off his comrades' attention from the two sharp clicks which came from behind the lesser gateway. But they saw a little line of light and smoke running over the stone paving of the bridge, and with a yell of horror, they turned and fled hurriedly back and down the slope. "Don't look!" yelled Dummy, forcing Mark aside, when the flash brought the castle and summit of the Black Tor into full view; then there was an awful muffled roar, which went echoing away, and as it died out, the two lads dashed across the bridge to the head of the zigzag descent, to make out 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 the darkness. "Yes, Dan Rugg, and a splendid use they made of it," cried Sir Edward. "Well done, my lads. But come into shelter; they surprised us, with everything left open. We must lock the stable door now. Think they'll come again, Rugg?" "Nay, Sir Edward; not to-night. Those explosions will bring our lads up to 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 and been admitted, ready to meet the enemy should he return, but the silence up at the Black Tor was not disturbed again that night. "Out of revenge for you boys' attack," said Sir Edward, when he had heard his son's account of their proceedings in the mine, and Dummy's clever thought about the powder. "It might have meant the loss of this place. But there must be an end to it now. You lads were so handy with the powder-bags that you shall try your hands upon that wasps' nest, for I can't rest now till I've had it well burnt out. Pity more powder was not used this time. I don't believe they were more than singed, and half my windows were smashed." "But if we had used more powder, father," said Mark, smiling, "we might have knocked down the place." CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. AN ENEMY IN DISTRESS. The rattling of a handful of tiny pebbles took Mark Eden to his window that morning--for it was beginning to grow grey in the east when he went to his bed, Sir Edward insisting upon his going, and announcing that he was going to keep watch with three men.