A large piece of the granite was chipped off, but the mattock snapped in twain.

Guy Fawkes looked deeply disconcerted, and Garnet, though he concealed his emotion, was filled with dismay.
"Let me take your place," cried Keyes, advancing, as Guy Fawkes retired.
Keyes was a powerful man, and exerting his energies, he buried the point of the pick-axe so deeply in the mortar, that he could not remove it unassisted.

These untoward circumstances cast a slight damp upon their ardour; but Catesby, who perceived it, went more cautiously to work, and in a short time succeeded with great labour in getting out the large stone upon which the others had expended so much useless exertion.

The sight restored their confidence, and as many as could work in the narrow space joined him.

But they found that their task was much more arduous than they had anticipated.