Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/120

96 number of splintered fragments. They examined them curiously.

Then the Friar, losing his playful air, addressed them:

"I have no way of telling the strength of that compound. I have attempted in every way to confine it, but it bursts and shatters even steel bands. If a tiny handful does so much—imagine the effect of a great keg of the same terrible compound. It is force irresistible!"

"But is it not very difficult to make?" Edgar asked.

"Not more difficult than many a salve our leeches compound every day," the Friar answered. "But it is a secret which I do not mean to intrust to all the world. That black powder, once its composition is known—as known it will be one day to all the world—will render such a castle as this no more secure than the charcoal-burner's hut of boughs. Placed against a wall two paces thick and fired—behold a ruin!"

"Have you much of it?" Edgar inquired.

"I do not dare to keep much of it compounded," he replied, "but I have the materials for making what may be needed to carry out some of Hugh's plans. Perhaps the Count de Ferrers may yet regret that he turned from his door the poor wandering Franciscan brother, and the young Lord