"That's a true word," said the man, sulkily; and he placed his keg on the earth, beside one of the thick furnace walls, as Joe Banks, without another word, placed his there too, right in the centre of the building, where the great wall went up as a support to the various floors, close to the huge chimney-shaft, which was continued up a couple of hundred feet above the building. "It'll send the owd shaft down too," said Sim; "and if we're lucky, the place 'll catch fire and blaze like owt." "Pray be quick, my lads; and we'd better go now," whispered Barker. "Hush! wasn't that a noise?" "On'y an owd tom cat," said Slee. "He lives here, and scarred me finely when I came for the bands. Yow can do wi'out us, now, Joe Banks?" "Wait a moment," said the foreman, slowly. "Get me a crowbar off yon bench." Slee fetched the tool, taking the light with him, and casting weird shadows about the vast foundry, as he carried the lantern, and made its light flicker about. Then returning, he stood looking on, and holding the light, his hand trembling as he lighted Joe Banks, while he and the man called Stocktle loosed the top hoops, and wrenched out the heads of the kegs with a recklessness that made Barker's blood run cold, and he, too, shivered so that his teeth chattered. "Seems a shame to blow up t'owd shop," said Stocktle, again. "Must do it, I s'pose." "Of course you must, you maulkin," whispered Slee. "Theer's all the lads hinging about the market-place to see 'em go up. Now, Joe Banks, tak' this lantern. You knows what to do. Here's the fuse. Shove it in your pocket. Wait till we've gone, then upset both kegs, and then make a good long train right to the door, wheer you'll put your fuse into ground, with a handful o' powther at the end. Open the lantern, and howd fuse to it a moment, shoot lantern up, and if fuse is well leeted, coot off as hard as you can. Here's the pot. Half fill un, so as to lay a long train." Joe Banks took the small watering-can handed to him, and proceeded to half fill it from one of the kegs, trying it afterwards, to see if the black grains poured freely from the spout; and finding they did, he set it down. "Pray come along," whispered Barker. "I'm wi' you," said Slee; and he followed Barker hastily, the two men making for the counting-house door. "Tak' care o' yoursen, Joe Banks," said the man left behind. "Shall I stop and help you? Them two's coot awaya." "No; go after them," said the foreman, speaking almost for the first time. "Raight," said Stocktle, "On'y look out for yoursen, owd Guy Fox, and don't get blowed up too. Are you all raight?" "Yes," was the reply; and the man glided silently amongst the furnaces into the darkness, leaving the stern grey-headed man to his dark task.