The Lady of Blossholme
Page 38
Ten minutes later, and their plans were fixed. Two hours later, and,in the midst of a raving gale, hidden by the pitchy darkness and thetowering screen of the lifted drawbridge, Emlyn and the strong Jeffreyrolled the kegs of powder over planks laid across the moat, into themouth of the big drain and twenty feet down it, till they lay under thegateway towers! Then, lying there in the stinking filth, they drew thespigots out of holes that they had made in them, and in their place setthe slow-matches. Jeffrey struck a flint, blew the tinder to a glow, andhanded it to Emlyn.
"Now get you gone," she said; "I follow. At this job one is better thantwo."
A minute later she joined him on the farther bank of the moat. "Run!"she said. "Run for your life; there's death behind!"
He obeyed, but Emlyn turned and screamed, till, hearing her through thegale, all the guard hurried up the towers, flashing lanterns, to seewhat passed.
"STORM! STORM!" she cried. "UP WITH THE LADDERS! FOR THE KIND ANDHARFLETE! STORM! STORM!"
Then she too turned and fled.