"HAS YOUR FATHER BEEN A SOLDIER?"
There had been plenty going on in Mark's absence of an hour or two, and
as soon as he had seen the recruits to their little force settled down
in the hall to rest and refresh, he hastened up to Master Rayburn to
find how his patient was going on. "Badly, Mark, boy," said the old
man; "very badly. He has been wounded in the mind as well as body. The
best remedy for him will be the knowledge that his father and sister are
safe. Well, what fortune in your mission?"
"That's good in two ways," he said, as soon as he had heard Mark's
account; "strengthens your hands, and sounds as if the people are
getting as wise as their masters."
Mark did not wish to discuss that subject, for it was irksome to him at
a time when he felt that he did not know whether the Darleys and he were
enemies or friends, his thoughts going toward the former as being the
more natural in connection with the past.
Under these circumstances, he hurried away, descended, and found his
father superintending the repair of the gate which defended the castle
by the bridge. The piping times of peace had caused carelessness, and
this gate had been so neglected that Purlrose and his men had had no
difficulty in levering it off the pivots, and gaining an entrance.
Sir Edward was determined not to be caught sleeping again, for sentinels
had been posted, and various means taken for strengthening the place.
As for the damage to the great doors of the hall, these had already been
covered with stout boarding, and missiles in the shape of heavy stones
and pigs of lead were piled up on the platform of each tower.
Under Dan Rugg's supervision, arquebuses had been cleaned and placed
ready for use, and a couple of small cannon trained where they could
sweep the approach to the bridge, and in turn the gateways leading into
the outer and inner courts.
Sir Edward expressed himself as being highly pleased with his son's
success; and, treating him in this emergency as if he were a man, he
joined him in the little council of war that was held with Dan Rugg. In
this the best way of proceeding was discussed, and it was determined
that instead of waiting for the darkness, the attacking party should set
off early in the evening.
For old Dan had said: "It's no use to think of trying to surprise them
now, master; they'll be well on the look out for us, and have men ready.
Means a sharp bit of fighting to get up to the hole yonder, but once we
get there, the powder will fight for us."
"You mean to fire some at the entrance?" said Mark.
"Ay, Master Mark; that's it, and then send another bag in before us, and
fire that, and go on doing it till we've either blasted 'em all out of
the place or made 'em so sick and sorry that they'll cry surrender."
The hours glided by, as it seemed to Mark, very slowly, till the time
appointed for starting approached; and, after a final glance at Ralph,
he was coming down, when Master Rayburn followed him.
"I should like to come with you, Mark, my boy," he said gravely, "but my
place is here. Heaven grant that you may be successful; and if you
are," he said meaningly, "there will be peace in our vale."
Mark pressed his hand, buckled on his sword, and went down into the yard
to join his father, who was giving final instructions to the wounded men
about keeping the gates fast during their absence, not that an attack
was expected, but "to make assurance doubly sure."
While he was giving his last instructions, Dummy came running over the
bridge, and trotted up to Sir Edward.
"Well, boy, could you see anything?"
"Yes," replied Dummy, with a sharp nod of the head. "You can see two,
if you go far enough, one on each side of the hill, keeping a look out."
"Did they see you?"
"Nay, I was a-creeping among the bushes."
"Then it is of no use to try and get up unobserved, Mark," said Sir
Edward, quietly. "It must be a bold open attack."
He turned and said a few words to Sir Morton Darley's men, Nick and the
rest, after having had their injuries tended, and a few hours' rest and
refreshment, looking far better prepared for the encounter, and falling
into their places with sullen determination.
Mark, at a word from his father, marched up alongside of Nick Garth, who
gave him a surly nod, and seemed to be about to speak, but checked
himself, and then let his curiosity master him.
"What ha' they got in them baskets?" he said, nodding to a couple strung
from poles, and each hanging from two men's shoulders, "bread and
cheese?"
"No: blasting-powder."
"Eh? What for?" said the man, staring.
"Blow out the cavern," said Mark quietly.
The man uttered a low long whistle, and then a grim smile covered his
face.
"Hah!" he whispered, "that does a man good, young Eden! I was coming,
and I meant to fight till I dropped; but after what we tried to do, I
knew they'd be too many for us; but I begin to see my way now."
"Yes, they don't like the powder," said Mark. "We made them run with it
when they attacked us here."
"What, did they 'tack you here?"
"Yes, and were beaten off, and came down to you."
"Well, it wasn't very neighbourly to send 'em down to us," said the man
sourly.
"You should have beaten them off, and sent them back again," said Mark,
smiling.
Then the order to march came, and the little band of sturdy men went off
at a solemn tramp, Dummy carrying a couple of lanterns and a box slung
from his shoulder, well supplied with torches, candles, and slow match,
for the powder which it did not fall to his lot to bear.
As they passed over the bridge, the wounded men clanged to the gates,
and two of them took their places on the tower above, while, as the
party tramped across and turned to descend the zigzag, a thought came to
Mark, and he turned back to glance at the window of his bed-chamber, as
he wished that Ralph Darley were uninjured and marching by his side to
help in the rescue of his father and sister.
There were two faces at the casement: those of Mary and Master Rayburn;
and as the lad descended the slope they waved their hands to him. The
next minute the cliff-side hid them from view.
The march in the calm bright evening was uneventful. Everything was so
beautiful that it seemed hard to realise the horrors which had taken
place during the past night, till Mark looked to right or left, and saw
the bandages of several of the men. Nick Garth, too, was limping, but
he resolutely kept on declaring that it was nothing to mind.
The Steeple Stone was left to the right, for there was this time no
party of allies to meet; and very soon the great heavy mass of barren
rocky hill loomed up before them, higher and higher, till the party were
out from among the trees which had so far concealed their march, and
proof was soon given that they were observed.
For all at once something was seen to be in motion, and Dummy shouted:
"There: I told you so!"
At the distance they then were, the object seen might have been a sheep
or goat, slowly moving up the higher part of the mountain; but before
long it stood out on the ridge, clear against the golden evening sky,
plainly enough now a man.
Mark judged that after watching them the sentinel waved his hand to some
one below, for the movement was seen, and a few minutes later another,
and again another figure came up to stand clearly marked against the
sky; and after a time all descended, their course being tracked down the
barren hill face, till they disappeared, without doubt, in through the
mouth of the cavern.
"Preparing a warm reception for us, Mark, my lad," said Sir Edward,
advancing to his son's side; "but we shall be able to give them one
equally warm. Well, my man, how are the wounds? Would you like to have
ten minutes' halt?"
Nick, to whom this was addressed, showed his teeth in a peculiar smile.
"When we've done our work, master; not before. Dessay we shall be
'bliged to wait before we get in."
"I hope not," said Sir Edward. "I mean for us to make a bold rush."
"That's right, master," said the man, whose fellows were listening
eagerly; "but I've been thinking about Sir Morton yonder, and my young
lady."
"Yes? What about them?" asked Sir Edward.
"You're going to use blasting-powder?"
"Well, what of that?"
"I was thinking about them inside. We wouldn't like to hurt them."
"Of course not; but as I know the place, there is little fear. I went
in some distance, some twenty years ago, and the passages run to and fro
and keep opening up into chambers. Now, one of these, some distance in,
is sure to be turned into a prison for the captives, where they would be
beyond the reach of the powder, and I feel certain that they would be
too far away to be hurt."
"Won't bring the roof down upon 'em, will it?" asked the man.
"I don't think there is any fear; but it is only where we fail to drive
the wretches back that I shall have a charge fired. I must save my men
from injury as much as I can."
"That's what Sir Morton used to say, young gentleman," said Nick, as Sir
Edward drew back; and for the next half-hour the attacking party, a good
twenty strong, advanced steadily, the steepness of the climb soon
enforcing slower progress.
For some little time now they had been aware of the fact that the enemy
had been making preparations for an attack. Taught by the last, they
had worked hard, and built-up a massive wall across the entrance to
their stronghold, this defensive work being formed of the rough blocks
lying about the little slope, and for the most part they were dragged
down, and hoisted into their place.
Upon this, half-a-dozen armed men were standing, watching their
approach, and the attacking party made out their swords and pikes, the
latter leaning against a rock, with their bright steel heads sloping
towards the climbers.
When these latter were within about a hundred yards, Sir Edward halted
his party, and ranged them in a curved line, the men at a short distance
from each other, so that as they all made for the mouth of the cave they
would gradually draw together, and be close when they delivered the
attack.
"Pikes only," said Sir Edward. "Keep your swords for the close
hand-to-hand work."
"Has your father been a soldier, youngster?" whispered Nick Garth
hoarsely.
"No; why?"
"Talks like one. He couldn't do better. He'll give the word soon, and
the sooner the better. I've got my wind now. 'Member the master and
the young missus, lads."
There was a growl from his companions, and as Mark glanced at them he
felt that it would go hard with any one among the enemy who came within
reach of their pikes.
The enemy had, however, now descended from the top of their wall, and
only their heads and breasts were visible, as, ten strong now, they
stood in a row, with their pikes resting upon the top; ready to thrust
at the first who came within reach.
"Now, my lads," cried Sir Edward; "have you all got your wind?"
"Ay!" ran along the crescent line.
"You with the powder, and the two centre men stand fast till you are
wanted."
This order was obeyed as the next was given, and headed by Sir Edward
and his son, the party made steadily for the wall, at first slowly and
gradually increasing the pace, till Sir Edward cried, "Charge!" and they
broke into a trot, the fastest speed to be attained to upon such a
slope.
Then, amidst shouts of hatred and mocking defiance from the marauders,
there was the clash of steel, and the heavy rattling noise made by the
pike-staves, as, thrusting and stabbing, the attacking party strove to
win their way over the wall. Sir Edward led his men bravely, while, in
a wild fit of excitement, Mark, young as he was, strove to show the
Darley men that he was worthy to be their leader.
A fierce rage filled these men, fresh from the ruined home, and half mad
with desire to revenge themselves upon those who had given them their
wounds; but all along it was the same; they were at a terrible
disadvantage in their approach, their enemies having their undefended
bodies as marks for their weapons, while they had only head and
shoulders to strike at, the rest of their bodies being safe, behind the
strong breastwork.
Then, too, feeling secure in this approach to their stronghold, the
marauders stood firm, waiting their opportunities, and then thrusting
home, with the result that several of their assailants went down, and at
the end of five minutes' vain attack, Sir Edward ordered the men to draw
back a few yards, and with some difficulty he and his son, by rushing
before them, and thrusting up their pikes, induced them to obey.
"This is useless, Mark," he said anxiously. "They are too strong for
us. Take the extreme right next time we advance, and I will take the
left. Then as soon as they are well engaged in front, you, with two men
must try to get in over your end, and drop over amongst them from the
side, and I will do the same. Do you dare to do that?"
"I feel as if it is horribly risky," replied the boy, "but I'll try."
"Then you will do it," said Sir Edward quietly. "Choose your men, and I
will do the same."
Five minutes later, amidst the mocking jeers of the men behind the
breastwork, a fresh attack was made, and as Mark reached the front, he
ducked down to avoid a thrust from a lance, crept close to the wall and,
followed by Nick Garth and Ram Jennings, turned the end of the stones,
climbed on, and reached the stone-strewn cliffs behind.
Then, knowing that the two men, in their fierce energy and hate, would
be quite close, Mark turned suddenly, drew himself up, sword in hand--
his followers letting their pikes slip through their hands, and holding
them close up to the heads--and leaped down inside the breastwork, his
father simultaneously coming over at the other flank.
There was not much force in either attack, but it proved effectual by
its suddenness, throwing the defenders into confusion.
These rallied directly, and pikes were swung round and directed at the
flanking parties, but the momentary check gave the men in front the
opportunity to rush close up to the breastwork, which now became their
protection, the defenders, having fallen back, becoming in turn exposed.
The fight now became furious, for the marauders began to back toward the
mouth of the cave, giving way step by step, as the length of their line
was gradually contracted by one after another dashing in, till all had
passed into the narrow passage, the first men blocking the way with the
heads of their pikes, while their fellows stooped and crept beneath,
till the last was in safety. It is needless to say that an attempt to
follow would have meant instant death.
A cheer now rose from the attacking party, who had achieved the taking
of the outwork, and Sir Edward forced his way to his son's side, to clap
him on the shoulder, as he stood just out of reach of the defenders'
bristling pikes, which effectually barred the way.
"We have them now, Mark," he cried. "Pass the word there for Daniel
Rugg."
But a low growl on the other side of the wall told that there was no
need to pass any word. As soon as he saw that there was a chance for
the next step, Dan had signed to Dummy, who trotted forward with
lantern, fuse, and powder-bag, and father and son climbed into the
little fort a few feet away from the opening into the cavern.
"Silence!" roared Sir Edward now--"you within there, lay down your arms,
and march out at once."
A defiant yell came from the holders of the pikes, enraging Nick Garth
to such an extent that he picked up a block of stone from the top of the
breastwork, raised it above his head, and dashed it into the doorway,
Ram Jennings following suit with another.
The stones crashed in among the pikes with plenty of rattling, and a
burst of yells followed as the men picked up a couple more.
"Stop, there," cried Sir Edward sternly. "You can do no good, and I
want the wall left sound for our own protection."
Nick growled savagely, but he obeyed, and the men all stood fast at the
cavern's mouth with presented pikes, ready to attack if any movement was
made by the defenders, while Dan Rugg and his son quickly prepared their
missile.
"Ready," shouted Dan from where he stood inside the wall with, his back
to the men, and with Dummy looking intensely interested standing ready
with the lantern.
"You, in there," cried Sir Edward now, "will you surrender?"
"No," cried a hoarse voice from inside. "Go back with your ragged pack
of hungry hounds, or we'll come and burn you out as we did the other
idiot."
"Once more," cried Sir Edward, who still hesitated to proceed to the
sternest measures; "will you give up your prisoners and surrender?"
"Bah! Laugh at him, boys," cried the same hoarse voice: and another
derisive yell arose.
"Out with you, my lads," cried Sir Edward; and his men sprang over the
wall again.
"You too, Mark," said Sir Edward; and Mark followed, while Dan Rugg came
close up with his bag of powder and fuse carefully tied in.
"Lay it as near as you can, so as to be out of reach of the pikes."
"No good, Sir Edward," said the man in a husky whisper. "Out with you.
I'm going to light the fuse, and go right close, and heave it in over
their pikes."
"But that is too dangerous for you."
"Not it. I know to a quarter of a minute when it will fire, and I shall
hold it till then. That'll give me time to jump the wall. Quick, sir,
please."
It was no time for hesitation, and feeling that his old servant at the
mine could be trusted, Sir Edward climbed the wall, and Dummy, showing
his teeth in a satisfied grin, opened the door of the lantern.
The next moment Dan had held the end of the short fuse he had provided
to the candle, and a slight spluttering began.
"Over with you," growled Dan, as his son snapped to the lantern door.
"Take care of yourself, daddy," said the boy coolly.
"You be off," growled Dan, and Dummy placed the lantern on the top of
the breastwork, and vaulted over amongst the men, who were crouching
down behind, to be out of the blast.
All this had taken place unknown to the defenders, who, from the
narrowness of the entrance, were shut off from seeing the quaint,
sardonic face of the old miner, as he stood holding the bag, with the
burning fuse spluttering and sending up its curls of greyish smoke.
The men held their breath, and Mark's eyes dilated as he watched the
brave old fellow holding the bag, in the full knowledge that if he held
the powder a moment too long he must be shattered to pieces.
It was a combination of the familiarity which breeds contempt and the
confidence born of long experience which made Dan Rugg stand there so
coolly for what seemed to be a long time before turning as he watched
the burning fuse.
"Heads down there," he said suddenly; "she's going off."
There was a quick movement, but Mark felt as if he was held by a
nightmare dream, and he stood there watching, as the old man took a
couple of steps forward, and now for the first time in full sight of
those who held the fence of cross pikes.
In an instant there was a wild yell, and the pikes went down with their
heads to the stones, and disappeared, but it was as Dan Rugg raised the
bag above his head, and hurling it right into the cavern passage, he
started aside to the shelter of the wall, while now by a step aside Mark
also reached shelter. Then there was a roar and a burst of flame and
smoke came as from the mouth of a cannon, and the men sprang up again to
cheer.
"Steady--steady!" cried Sir Edward. "Now, my lads, over the wall with
you, and follow me; never mind the smoke. Rugg, have another charge
ready; we shall want it soon."
"Ay, Sir Edward, that was a failure. I didn't hold it long enough.
They had time to get away."
Sir Edward and his son entered the murk, and had to feel their way, and
halted.
"Light torches," cried Mark: and half-a-dozen were lit and passed in,
when once more the party advanced, expecting to be attacked, but the
blast had produced a scare, though it had done no serious harm, save
tearing down a few stones, and instead of attacking, the marauders stood
on their defence in the place familiar to Mark and some of the men.
There was again the same bristling array of pikes in the opening; and
after a renewed summons to surrender, the old miner proceeded coolly to
prepare a second bag of powder.
This was fired, but the explosion did not take place till some time
after the defenders of the cavern had retreated; and for a while the
passage was so stifling with the fumes that it was impossible to go on,
so the party had to draw back to allow them to be dissipated.
At last it was deemed prudent to proceed, and once more the advance was
ordered, the men eagerly obeying; and with torches adding their smoke to
that already hanging in the gloomy cracks and vaults, they pressed on
till once more the way was blocked.
It was no array of spear-points in a narrow passage, but in this case
the solid blocking of a wall of stone, built-up with care, the stones
well wedged in, a narrow opening left for the retreat of the defenders
having been filled up since their last retreat, and the wonder to those
who examined it was that it had been so quickly secured.
The choice of position, though, had been well made, for the passage was
not above four feet wide at this point, and the roof had sunk till it
was in this particular spot only five in height.
Once more the powder was brought forward by Dummy, the bag laid close to
the bottom stones, the fuse added, and lit, and the party retired to a
safe distance, to wait until the powder had swept the barrier away.
The explosion was long in coming, and when it did, with a mighty roar,
an hour had to be passed before another advance was made, but no farther
than the wall, which was found apparently quite uninjured, though the
powder had brought down a huge mass from the roof.
"Pull it down," said Sir Edward impatiently, and a couple of the men--
there was no room for more--attacked the well-fitted stones, but only
for one to start back with a cry of rage and pain, his hand to his side.
"Hurt?" cried Mark excitedly, and he ran to the man's aid, to be sent
staggering back by a heavy blow.
It was Sir Edward's turn to rush to his son, and he too reeled as he
received a thrust, but in the case of both, the pike-thrusts did not
penetrate their clothes, the point of the weapon having been turned,
unknown to the man who used it, by a thrust against the rock.
It was a warning, and throwing the light of the torches well upon the
built-up wall, a couple of the men found the holes through which the
thrusts had been made, and advancing cautiously to send their pikes
through, had to leap back again, for the enemy thrust at them. Nick
struck in turn, though, and a yell of pain told that it was not without
effect.
"Keep back," cried Sir Edward, as his men advanced recklessly, and when
the wounded man had been drawn away and carried out, after a rough
bandage had been applied to his wound, Sir Edward turned to his son.
"You must be hurt, my boy," he whispered.
"I was, father, horribly."
"But I mean wounded."
"Only my doublet," said the lad merrily. "What are we to do now?"
After a few moments' thought, as Nick Garth had been so able, Sir Edward
decided to let him try again, which he eagerly did, feigning so as to
draw a thrust from the enemy, and darting aside and close up to the
wall. Then, as the man withdrew his pike, Nick, holding his own short,
thrust it through after it, and again there was a yell of pain, but
almost at the same moment Ram Jennings was just reached by a thrust
through another hole, and sprang back, roaring like a wild beast.
"Yah! don't howl like that," cried Nick angrily; "do as I do."
But poor Ram Jennings preferred to stand nursing his injured arm, and
watching his fellow ramming away with his pike, as if loading a gun,
till suddenly it was jerked out of his hand, and drawn through the wall.
"Look at that," he growled. "Here, give's hold of another."
But Sir Edward ordered him back.
"It's of no use, my lad," he cried; "come away."
"All very well to say come away, captain," growled the man, as he stood
close up, "but if I stir, I shall get a hole through me."
Sir Edward saw the man's difficult position, and gave an order in a low
tone, when every man bearing a light ran back and round one of the
corners, leaving the cavern in darkness.
Nick took advantage thereof, and sprang away from his perilous position.
The rattle of a pike-staff against the stones told that a thrust had
been made at him in the darkness.
"Are you hit?" cried Mark anxiously.
"Ay, youngster, but on'y with the staff," growled Nick; and the order
for the lights to be brought back was given and obeyed.
"Another, Rugg," said Sir Edward laconically, and Dan, who had a bag
ready, primed with fuse, laid it on the stony floor, picked it up on the
point of a pike, and advanced to place it against the wall.
A couple of thrusts were made at it directly, but he lowered it, and the
enemy could not force their points down low enough to reach it. But as
Dan placed it against the bottom of the wall the pikes were aimed now at
his breast.
"Back!" roared Sir Edward, as Mark rushed at the man to drag him away.
"All right, Master Mark," said Dan coolly; "my arms and my pike are as
long as theirs. They can't reach me. They've got all the thickness of
the wall to push through as well;" and he coolly placed the powder-bag
and arranged the fuse ready for being lighted.
"I did not think of that, Dan," said Mark.
"Ay, but I did," said the old fellow, chuckling. "Now, Dummy, my boy,
son, bring a lighted torch."
Dummy trotted forward, and they heard a growl from beyond the wall, as
the miner thrust the point of his pike into the end of the torch, and
then reached out toward the fuse, but only succeeded in getting it
half-way before it was knocked off the point of his weapon.
"Ah, deal o' good that's done," growled Dan, trying to drive the point
of his pike into the torch again. "There," he shouted, "run for it; I
can reach to pitch it up to the bag."
The men on the other side did not grasp the fact that if Dan did this
his companions would fare worse than they, but scuffled off at once,
their steps being plainly heard.
"Fools!" growled Dan, and stepping forward, he picked up the torch, went
close up to the wall, and touched the end of the fuse, which began to
sparkle at once.
"Plenty o' time, Sir Edward," he said coolly, "if you'll now order us
back."
The order was given, and as it was obeyed, Sir Edward and his son
retiring last, they saw Nick Garth step close up to old Dan and pat him
on the shoulder.
"You're a cool one, mate," he said. "I never see one as cool as you."
Dan chuckled a little, and all went along the narrow passage and into
the chamber beyond, well out of reach of the blast, and waited.
It was a good two minutes before the explosion took place, and Mark had
made perfectly sure that the fuse had gone out, when there was a
sensation as if his breath was being sucked away, then a deafening roar,
followed by a crash.
Again they had to wait till the fumes had somewhat dispersed. Then,
with Sir Edward and Mark leading, they returned, expecting to see the
wall demolished; but as far as they could see it was perfectly sound,
while another huge mass from the roof had come down, to lie piled up
before it, so that there was hardly room for a man to crawl over the
heap, so close was it to the roof.
"It's of no use, Mark," whispered Sir Edward, as they drew back a little
from the smoke, "we must devise some other plan. It is useless to try
another bag there without first clearing away the mass of stones, and we
can only do that at the expense of many men wounded by pike-thrusts,
perhaps killed."
"Yes," said Mark, "and it doesn't seem fair to order them to do it."
"I cannot, my boy. There, we have done our work for this time. Let's
get out of this horrible smoke."
"Hoi, you!" came from beyond the wall; "if you fire any more of that
choke-dog stuff, I'll give orders to my men to kill the prisoners,
'specially the girl."
"You cowardly ruffian!" cried Mark, in a rage.
"Bah! Puppy!" came back scornfully.
"Don't answer, boy," said Sir Edward softly.
"But father!--if--"
"It is only a boast. They dare not do such a thing as that. Come."
They retired, making for the mouth of the cavern, where the cool night
air blew with refreshing force.
"But we cannot give up, father," cried Mark.
"I am not going to give up, my boy," said Sir Edward quietly. "When an
assault upon a stronghold fails, a general tries to starve his enemy
into submission. We must do the same here. Unfortunately they must
have stores, and they have a good supply of water from a spring within
there. But still we must try. The first thing is to protect ourselves
from a sudden attack, and this will be easy. Now, my lads, every man
take in a block of stone, and carry it into the cavern as far as the end
of the first chamber. Take these from the breastwork; we do not want it
now, for we shall encamp inside."
Mark nodded approval, and the men, glad that the night's fighting was at
an end, set to work with a will, after laying their arms aside; and in
less than an hour had walled up to a great thickness the narrow exit
from the cavern, wedging in the top stones with blows, and in spite of
the want of mortar producing a good solid piece of work, through which
no pikes could be thrust.
This done, Sir Edward reduced his force to one-third, this being plenty
to defend the wall should it be attacked from the inner side; and the
rest were sent back to the Tor Castle, for provisions and blankets.
"Now, Mark, lad," said Sir Edward, "the thing to consider is, how long
can the enemy hold out?"
"Not long, father," replied the lad; "they cannot have a very good
supply."
"That," said Sir Edward, "remains to be proved."