"I see by his bloodthirsty looks that the villain is in earnest." "I hear footsteps," cried the other soldier; "our comrades are at hand." "Then it is time for me to depart," cried Guy Fawkes, springing through the secret door, and closing it after him.
"Confusion!" exclaimed the pursuivant; "but he shall not escape.

Break open the panel." The order was promptly obeyed.

The men battered the stout oak board, which was of great thickness, with their pikes, but it resisted every effort, nor was it until the arrival of a fresh band of soldiers with lights, mallets, chisels, and other implements suitable to the purpose, that it could be forced open.

This accomplished, the pursuivant, commanding his attendants to follow him, dashed through the aperture.

As they proceeded singly along the narrow passage, the roof became so low that they were compelled to adopt a stooping posture.