A while later Cicely, Jacob Smith, Thomas Bolle, Jeffrey Stokes, andEmlyn Stower sat together taking counsel--very earnest counsel, for thecase was desperate. Plan after plan was brought forward and set asidefor this reason or for that, till at length they stared at each otheremptily.
"Emlyn," exclaimed Cicely at last, "in past days you were wont to befull of comfortable words; have you never a one in this extreme?" forall the while Emlyn had sat silent.
"Thomas," said Emlyn, looking up, "do you remember when we were childrenwhere we used to catch the big carp in the Abbey moat?"
"Aye, woman," he answered; "but what time is this for fishing stories ofmany years ago? As I was saying, of that tunnel underground there is nohope. Beyond the grove it is utterly caved in and blocked--I've triedit. If we had a week, perhaps----"
"Let her be," broke in Jacob; "she has something to tell us."
"And do you remember," went on Emlyn, "that you told me that therethe carp were so big and fat because just at this place 'neath thedrawbridge the Abbey sewer--the big Abbey sewer down which all foulthings are poured--empties itself into the moat, and that therefore Iwould eat none of those fish, even in Lent?"
"Aye, I remember. What of it?"
"Thomas, did I hear you say that the powder you sent for had come?"
"Yes, an hour ago; six kegs, by the carrier's van, of a hundredweighteach. Not so much as we hoped for, but something, though, as the cannonhas not come--for the King's folk had none--it is of no use."
"A dark night, a ladder with a plank on it, a brick arched drain, twohundredweight, or better still, four of powder set beneath the gate,a slow-match and a brave man to fire it--taken together with God'sblessing, these things might do much," mused Emlyn, as though toherself.
Now at length they took her point.
"They'd be listening like a cat for a mouse," said Bolle.
"I think the wind rises," she answered; "I hear it in the trees. I thinkpresently it will blow a gale. Also, lanterns might be shown at the backwhere the breach is, and men might shout there, as though preparing toattack. That would draw them off. Meanwhile Jeffrey Stokes and I wouldtry our luck with the ladder and the kegs of powder--he to roll and Ito fire when the time came, for being, as you have heard, a witch, Iunderstand how to humour brimstone."