"Ah! I have no sword." "Got a pick in your belt, and so have I." "You'll stand by me, Dummy ?" "Won't I, Master Mark! I want to get a hit at some of 'em.

You won't stop me, will you, to-night ?" "If they've come and attacked us, no.

Hush, quiet! Let's steal out first, and see." The night was very dark as they left the mouth of the mine, but after their late experience it seemed to both to be comparatively light, and with Mark now armed with the miner's pick, which he felt would be a good substitute for a battle-axe, they hurried up the steps, with the noise above increasing, but seeming to be over on the other side of the little castle.

A minute or two later they had reached the platform which led to their right over the narrow natural bridge, to the left, through the gateway into the first courtyard.

This was empty, and they ran lightly across it, to find that the encounter was going on beyond the second gateway, which led into the little inner courtyard, surrounded by the dwelling-house portion of the castle.