The Black Tor Part 56

"All quiet enough now," when a voice, apparently close to his elbow, said hoa.r.s.ely:

"No. I'm not going to walk into a trap."

There was a good deal in those few words, for to Mark, among other things, they meant that if the speaker was not going to walk into a trap, it was because he must have food enough to last him for some time longer, and was not willing to lay down his arms.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

DUMMY RUGG HAS THE THINKS.

The blockade was strictly kept up at the mouth of the cavern, Sir Edward having cast aside, at all events for the time being, every feeling of enmity; and in spite of the many disappointments, he grew day by day more determined to rout out the gang, and rescue their prisoners. "Only tell me what to do, Mark, my boy, and if it is possible, it shall be done. If we go on blasting the place we shall end by shutting them in beyond recovery," said Sir Edward, "a good enough thing to do as far as the ruffians are concerned, but we shall destroy Sir Morton Darley and his child."

"I can't think of anything, father," said Mark, gloomily. "I suppose we can only wait."

"That is the conclusion I always come to, my boy. All we can do is to be perfectly ready for the moment when, utterly desperate, they will surrender or break out."

"I hope they'll fight, father," said Mark grimly. "Why?"

"Because it would be so horrible for them to surrender. I'd rather see them die fighting."

"Yes," said Sir Edward, frowning heavily. "Hanging prisoners was all very well a hundred years ago. We don't want to do that sort of thing nowadays. There, run over to the Tor, and see how things are going.

You need not hurry back. Tell Mary I shall come myself to-morrow, and that I'm getting very tired of sleeping in a cavern."

"But suppose the men try to break out while I'm gone, father."

"Well, if they do, I shall have all the honour of the fight."

"But I shall not like that," said Mark.

"I might say the same to you to-morrow, my boy," said Sir Edward, smiling. "Go and see how young Darley is; we cannot give up everything to this business."

Mark started for home, leaving his father with a strong enough guard to master the men if they attempted to escape; and before he had gone fifty yards, Dummy came trotting after his young master like a dog.

"Hullo! what is it, Dummy?" cried Mark, stopping short.

"Only coming home with you, Master Mark. Saw you, and father said he didn't want me."

"Oh, very well. Getting tired of it?"

"Ever so, Master Mark. I liked it when we were firing the powder, or having a bit of a fight, but it's so stupid to be doing nothing but sit down and watch a wall, like dogs after rabbits that won't ever come."

"Yes," said Mark, with a sigh, "it is weary work."

"Father says he don't believe they'll ever come."

"But they must, when they've finished their food."

"He says they've got such lots. They've been at work, he says, for twenty miles round, as he knows, and they've stored up sacks of meal and corn, and sides of bacon, and hams, and pickle-tubs of pork. There aren't no end to the stuff they've got, and then they've plenty of good water, both warm and cold."

"Oh, don't talk about it," cried Mark; "it makes me feel as bad as can be."

Dummy settled down into the mood which originated his name during the rest of the way, and the lads parted as they reached the Tor, Dummy to go down the steps to the mine to see how everything looked, and report to his father upon his return, and Mark to hurry up to his room, where Ralph Darley lay insensible still, and where he had a very warm reception from his sister and Master Rayburn.

"Then you have taken the place at last, Mark," cried Mary.

"No," said the lad, frowning, "and we're not likely to take it. I say, Master Rayburn, isn't he a long time getting better?"

"Yes," said the old man gravely, "and perhaps after all it is a mercy that he remains insensible. Poor fellow! it would be horrible for him, in his weak state, to lie fretting because he could not go to the help of his father and sister."

Mark conveyed his message about Sir Edward's intentions for the following day, and he was bending down over the sufferer's pillow, thinking how very much he was changed, when there was a tap at the door, and an announcement that Dummy Rugg must see Master Mark directly.

"I must go, Mary," said Mark excitedly. "Some one has come over after us."

"Oh Mark!" cried the girl, looking startled, and clinging to him.

"Don't do that," cried the lad. "Be brave; I'll take all the care I can."

"Yes," said Master Rayburn to him, with a sad smile, "you will take all the care you can. I know what you are, Mark, but do try, boy, not to be rash."

Mark promised, and hurried down and out into the courtyard; but there was no Dummy visible till he had pa.s.sed the second, and found him seated on a block of stone, whistling, and swinging his legs to and fro.

"What is it? some one come to fetch us?" cried Mark excitedly.

"No: n.o.body aren't come," said the boy, looking at him fixedly.

"Then why did you send for me?" cried Mark angrily.

"'Cause I wanted you, Master Mark, very bad indeed."

"Here, what do you mean? What's the matter with you?"

"Got the thinks, very bad."

"Dummy!"

"Yes, Master Mark, I was took with 'em as soon as I got as far as the powder store. It all come at once."

"What do you mean?"

Dummy was perfectly silent, but not perfectly still; for as he stared straight in Mark's face in a peculiarly stolid way, he kept on swinging and jerking his legs till he seemed as if some one was pulling a string to make him act like a jumping toy.

"Look here, stupid-head," cried Mark angrily, but only to break into a laugh, half of amus.e.m.e.nt, half of vexatious contempt, "are you going mad?"

"I dunno, Master Mark. Perhaps I am. There's something keeps on buzzing in my head like a wheel going round."

"You've been out too much in the sun."