Part 18 (2/2)

”What now?” growled he gruffly, ”that thou must cry aloud the contents of thy cellar? Hast not been paid?”

”Aye,” grumbled the man, drawing back, ”for sitting over h.e.l.l! May those selfsame Spanish hirelings to whom thy powder goeth, be blown to their master with scant courtesy!”

Winter whispered in Percy's ear: ”A pretty trick, good Percy, yet what more natural than, wis.h.i.+ng to turn a penny by furnis.h.i.+ng powder to the Dons, brave Guido should act with much secrecy, so that it be not seized by the authorities?”

Already they were in the house, and the door was securely fastened.

Fawkes laid aside some of his cautiousness.

”Friend Robert is a faithful man,” said he, turning to his companions and speaking with much significance; ”therefore have I entered into an agreement with him, that I, being under contract to the Spanish amba.s.sador to convey certain barrels of gunpowder into Flanders, he should guard them till the time be ripe for loading into such vessels as will carry them to the s.h.i.+p which I have hired.”

”Then,” replied Winter, taking from his wallet a gold piece and tendering it to Keyes, ”he will accept this token which, I warrant, will be increased by others of its kind if his diligence pleaseth thee.”

On seeing the gold the man's ill temper vanished. ”Good gentlemen,”

cried he, seizing eagerly the coin, ”I spoke but hastily.”

”That we know,” said Winter, ”and, perchance we, had we been so rudely awakened, would have done as thou didst. Hath any disturbed thee during thy guardians.h.i.+p?”

”None, save a few drunken braggarts who found their way hither, and would have battered in the door. Did any come whose wits were sharper than their caution, I would have----”

”What?” asked Fawkes pointedly, as the speaker hesitated.

”Faith!” replied Keyes, ”being a poor man, and a bag of gold pieces forthcoming upon the safe loading of this devil's face powder onto the Spanish vessel, 'twould be but just, that did any seek to cheat me of it--well, the river tells no tales; what think ye, gentlemen?”

Percy shuddered; Winter pressed his hand. ”Nay, good Percy,” he whispered, ”'tis scarce like to happen, yet even so, we would be but instruments in the hand of G.o.d.”

During this conversation Fawkes, who seemed to be familiar with the house, had led his companions into a small apartment whose window overlooked the river which, was.h.i.+ng against the stone foundation of the dwelling, offered a safe retreat did any, bent upon trouble making, force the street door.

Winter and Percy glanced about them. The place was bare save for a rude cot, a shaky table upon which flickered an iron-bound lantern, and a small chest that, did occasion require, could be placed against the narrow door. At a sign from Fawkes, Keyes drew aside the bed, disclosing in the floor the outlines of a trap door, which covered an opening to the cellar beneath. Stooping, he raised the heavy cover, revealing the top rounds of a rude ladder leading into the blackness below.

”'Tis there!” said Fawkes shortly, ”wouldst see it, gentlemen?”

Percy drew back, when Keyes, misunderstanding his hesitancy, caught the lantern from the table.

”I will go down,” said he, ”and thou mayst safely follow; the stuff be well housed, tight as a drum, and, as thou seest, the lantern scattereth no fire.”

”But will not the dampness of the place destroy its usefulness?” asked Winter.

”There is little fear,” replied Fawkes, ”although it lieth below the surface of the river; the cellar is hewn from the rock, and dry as a tinder-box. Lead the way, good Robert, take heed with thy light.”

With much cautiousness the two men followed Fawkes and his guide down the ladder to the floor ten feet below. Reaching it, Keyes held up the lantern so that its feeble rays penetrated the darkness. Piled against the walls of the subterranean chamber, Winter and Percy discerned irregular dark objects rising to the height of their heads.

”'Tis the wind which will free England of the pestilence,” said Fawkes grimly; then catching the quick glance of Winter, which reminded him of the presence of Master Keyes, added: ”Which sown in Flanders will bring forth a whirlwind against those who serve not G.o.d after the manner of the righteous.”

”A goodly amount of the grains,” said Percy, placing his foot again upon a round of the ladder; ”and how much saidst thou, good Master Keyes?”

<script>