THE ATTACK 259

the steps and rejoined Harry below. Before going down
further, Stanley, who had during the day informed Harry of
his plan, told him of the start that they had made.

« Of course it all depends upon what stones you meet with,”’
Harry said. ‘If you come to a big solid block I don’t see
how you are going to get through it.”’

‘< We have the hatchets and can whittle it away, and per-
haps we can make some chisels from the ramrods of your
guards’ guns. A lot can be done with patience and plenty
of hands.’’

Stanley then went down below and explained to the others
the plan proposed. The news gave them great satisfaction ;
for although Meinik had told them there was a staircase above
blocked with stones, it had seemed so impossible to him to
clear it that he had placed no stress upon the fact, and the
preparations made by the enemy to_cut off any possible re-
treat had greatly depressed them. Stanley took one of the
iron ramrods, and raking some of the embers from the fire,
placed it in them about a foot from one end ; then he directed
the others to fan the embers until they raised them almost to
white heat. Taking the ramrod out, he laid the edge of one
of their knives upon it, and striking its back with a stone,
soon cut through the glowing rod. He repeated the opera-
tion, and had then three short rods of equal length. He now
heated one end of each, and laying it on an axe on the
ground, hammered it into chisel shape with the back of a
light hatchet, repeating this several times until it had the re-
quired shape and sharpness, then he plunged this into a pot
of water. ;

He did the same with the other two, and had now three
chisels with -which he hoped to be able to chip away the
stones. The other ramrod he left intact, except that he
sharpened one end, then going up to Harry’s room he