Breaking the bullet out of a cartridge, he placed the blank charge in position in front of the striker, the case being firmly clasped by a bent nail.

To the trigger, the spring of which he had eased to a slight pressure, he attached a piece of unraveled rope, and this he carefully trained among the trees at a height of six inches from the ground, using as carriers nails driven into the trunks.

The ultimate result was that a mere swish of Iris's dress against the taut cord exploded the cartridge.
"There!" he exclaimed, exultantly.

"When I have driven stakes into the sand to the water's edge on both sides of the cove, I will defy them to land by night without giving us warning." "Do you know," said Iris, in all seriousness, "I think you are the cleverest man in the world." "My dear Miss Deane, that is not at all a Trades Unionist sentiment.
Equality is the key-note of their propaganda." Nevertheless he was manifestly pleased by the success of his ingenious contrivance, and forthwith completed the cordon.

To make doubly sure, he set another snare further within the trees.