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"Ye do but make things worse," said Joanna, sadly. "He will then enter
by the trap."
"
Not so," replied Dick. "He durst not tell his secret to so many. It is
by the trap that we shall flee. Hark! The attack is over. Nay, it was
none!"
It had, indeed, been no attack; it was the arrival of another party of
stragglers from the defeat of Risingham that had disturbed Sir Daniel.
They had run the gauntlet under cover of the darkness; they had been
admitted by the great gate; and now, with a great stamping of hoofs and
jingle of accoutrements and arms, they were dismounting in the court.
"
He will return anon," said Dick. "To the trap!"
He lighted a lamp, and they went together into the corner of the room.
The open chink through which some light still glittered was easily
discovered, and, taking a stout sword from his small armoury, Dick thrust
it deep into the seam, and weighed strenuously on the hilt. The trap
moved, gaped a little, and at length came widely open. Seizing it with
their hands, the two young folk threw it back. It disclosed a few steps
descending, and at the foot of them, where the would-be murderer had left
it, a burning lamp.
"Now," said Dick, "go first and take the lamp. I will follow to close
the trap."
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