It was carried up, and Roy stepped out, drawing the door after him, and after a few trials managing to close the two bars which secured the place. "Don't want no help there, sir?" "No; I have done it," was the reply; and Roy ascended the steps and waited for his companion to close the stone trap. "Not a bad hole this to shut any one up in if we ever wanted to get rid of him, eh? He'd have to shout pretty hard to make any one hear." "Don't talk; let's get away from the dreadful place," said Roy, whose face was wet with perspiration. "Can you carry both kegs?" "Half a dozen if you'd range 'em, sir," replied Ben. "Then I'll fasten the doors after us; and, mind this, the magazine must always be most carefully locked up." "You trust me for that, sir!" replied Ben. "I know too well what powder can do to try any tricks or trust anybody with it but myself. Why, do you know, sir, what would happen if I gave a fellow like Tom Rogers a keg to carry?" "No; how can I tell?" said Roy, shortly. "Well, I can, sir: he'd set it up on end, sit upon it, and take out a flint and steel to light his pipe as like as not." "Don't talk any more, please, Ben," said the boy as he proceeded to lock one of the doors. "No, sir; I only did it so as to keep you from thinking about what we've been doing. I suppose one would get used to it, but it does seem to me rather ugly work even to an old soldier." "Where are we to put these two kegs?" said Roy. "In the big closet in the armoury, sir," replied Ben. "Don't you fidget about them; they shall be all right, for that's my part of the place, and nobody goes in there without my leave." "It's impossible to help feeling a little uncomfortable about them, Ben, but I know you'll take care." "I just think I will, sir. I'm very particular about no harm coming to Sergeant Benjamin Martlet; and as to doing anything that might mean risks for my lady--but there, I needn't say nothing about that. You can come and see me put 'em away." Roy insisted upon carrying one of the kegs, in spite of the old soldier's opposition, not to relieve him of the load, but as a lesson to himself in the art of getting used to the dangerous composition. In addition, it had occurred to him that he should have to be present when the barrels were opened, and the gun or guns fired to test their utility and strength after lying by for so many years. Roy had never even heard a big gun fired, and he told himself that it would not do for him to display the slightest dread before the men. Consequently he hid his nervousness, and helped to deposit the kegs in the great cupboard which contained Ben's tools and cleaning apparatus. "There!" said that individual, "as soon as we've had our parade, and dismissed the troops, we'll see to that powder, and find out what it's like." He thrust the key into his pocket, buckled on his sword again, and, drawing himself up, asked the "captain" to lead the way to the entrance gate. CHAPTER ELEVEN.