The bottom will be in shadow, and we
may get off without being noticed. The only fear is that we shall make
a noise in opening the gate.
"Now, let us try it."
Keeping close to the wall, they crept to the gateway. This projected
two feet beyond the gate itself, and standing against the latter they
could not be seen, even in the unlikely event of one of the sentries
looking down. The only risk was of anyone in the guard house coming
out. This, however, could not be avoided, and they at once began to
examine the fastenings of the gate, which consisted of two massive
bars of wood, running across it. These, by their united strength, they
removed one after another. But when they tried it, they found the gate
still immovable.
"The beastly thing is locked," Dick said. "There is nothing to do, but
to blow it open."
He broke off the ends of three cartridges, poured the powder in at the
keyhole, and then inserted the slow match.
"Stand in the corner there, Surajah. I will go down to the stream
again, to light the tinder. The noise is less likely to be heard
there."
He stole back again, sat down at the edge of the water, placed his
tinder box in his lap, took his turban off and put it over his hands,
so as to deaden the sound, and then struck the steel sharply against
the flint.
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