"I can now guess
how you mean to destroy Herne. I like the scheme well enough; but it
cannot be executed without certain destruction to ourselves."
"I will take all the risk upon myself," said Tristram, "I only require your
aid in the preparations. What I propose to do is this. There is powder
enough in the magazine, not only to blow up the cave, but to set fire to
all the wood surrounding it. It must be scattered among the dry brush-
wood in a great circle round the cave, and connected by a train with
this magazine. When Herne comes hack, I will fire the train."
"There is much hazard in the scheme, and I fear it will fail," replied
Fenwolf, after a pause, "nevertheless, I will assist you."
"Then, let us go to work at once," said Tristram, " for we have no time
to lose. Herne will be here before midnight, and I should like to have all
ready for him."
Accordingly, they each shouldered a couple of the bags, and returning
to the cavern, threaded a narrow passage, and emerged from the
secret entrance in the grove.
While Fenwolf descended for a fresh supply of powder, Tristram
commenced operations. Though autumn was now far advanced, there
had been remarkably fine weather of late; the ground was thickly
strewn with yellow leaves, the fern was brown and dry, and the
brushwood crackled and broke as a passage was forced through it.
Pages:
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477