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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?"
"We're up ever so much higher here than they are at Ergles, yonder, aren't we?" "Higher? Of course," said Mark, looking at the lad curiously; "but what of that?" "That's what I wanted you to tell me, Master Mark, and that's it then." "What's what then?"
"That," said Sir Edward, "remains to be proved." Siege was now commenced, Ergles being to all intents and purposes an impregnable natural castle. Provisions and other necessaries were brought up, and the force was divided into three watches, who regularly mounted guard in the chamber in front of the wall.
A man had been started off as soon as the news was known to fetch more help from the Black Tor; and, as tidings fly swiftly, assistance soon came from every farm and cottage for miles, the women flocking up to Ergles, and eagerly helping to bear the sufferers to their homes.
There was a sharp blow from the pick, and Dan stooped to take up the piece of rock he had struck off, and handed it to his lord. "Boy's right, Sir Edward," he said. "Look at that." "But what has Blue John, whoever he is Oh, pish! I had forgotten the name of the blue spar. Is there any of it in Ergles?" "Only place about here where there is any, Sir Edward, and that's a piece."
Days had passed, and strange reports were flying about the sparsely inhabited neighbourhood. Fresh people had seen the witches in their long gowns, and it was rumoured that if any one dared to make the venture, they might be found crouching over their fire any dark, stormy night on the slope of Ergles, where nobody ever went, for it was a desolate waste, where a goat might have starved.
Why, I shan't never dare to come past Ergles now in the dark." "Why?" "'Cause old Purlrose and his men'll come popping out to haunt me for getting 'em killed. I shall never like to come by there again."
"A little; not much." "Ah, you don't know, or you would not talk about a little. Why, Ralph, boy, the country round is full of complaints of their doings. About a dozen great idle scoundrels are living up at Ergles in that cave, laying the people for miles round under contribution; picking the fat of the land, and committing outrage after outrage.
"There!" said Sir Edward, after their paces had been tried in one of the meadows; "now you are both better mounted than any young people in the Midlands, so go and have a good round together, and get back well before dark. Don't distress the horses, and go right away, and make a round to the west, so as not to go near Ergles. Not that the scoundrels would dare to attack you."
"Then you think," cried the lad, who was trembling now with excitement, "that we might get into Ergles through our mine?" "Sure I do all along them grotters and passages." "And take the ruffians by surprise?" "Ketch 'em asleep, Master Mark. They'd never think of our coming behind, like." Mark seized the boy by the shoulders, and shook him as hard as ever he could.
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