It was a warning, and throwing the light of the torches well upon the built-up wall, a couple of the men found the holes through which the thrusts had been made, and advancing cautiously to send their pikes through, had to leap back again, for the enemy thrust at them. Nick struck in turn, though, and a yell of pain told that it was not without effect. "Keep back," cried Sir Edward, as his men advanced recklessly, and when the wounded man had been drawn away and carried out, after a rough bandage had been applied to his wound, Sir Edward turned to his son. "You must be hurt, my boy," he whispered. "I was, father, horribly." "But I mean wounded." "Only my doublet," said the lad merrily. "What are we to do now?" After a few moments' thought, as Nick Garth had been so able, Sir Edward decided to let him try again, which he eagerly did, feigning so as to draw a thrust from the enemy, and darting aside and close up to the wall. Then, as the man withdrew his pike, Nick, holding his own short, thrust it through after it, and again there was a yell of pain, but almost at the same moment Ram Jennings was just reached by a thrust through another hole, and sprang back, roaring like a wild beast. "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. "Another, Rugg," said Sir Edward laconically, and Dan, who had a bag ready, primed with fuse, laid it on the stony floor, picked it up on the point of a pike, and advanced to place it against the wall. A couple of thrusts were made at it directly, but he lowered it, and the enemy could not force their points down low enough to reach it. But as Dan placed it against the bottom of the wall the pikes were aimed now at his breast. "Back!" roared Sir Edward, as Mark rushed at the man to drag him away.