the ceiling through which, even as we spoke, flakes of snow were
drifting into the room.

Captain Lestrange took a log of fuel and poked the hole, till it was
large enough to let a person through.

He bade me tear the sheet, make a band of it, and fasten it round my
mistress, while he clambered through my window on to the roof. It was a
perilous climb, but the captain was lithe and active as a cat. In a
minute we saw him looking in through the hole in the ceiling.

"Now hand me the end of the band," said he, "and come here and help me
to haul.--Nerve yourself, cousin, and all will be well."

Between us, we had no difficulty in drawing the poor lady through the
opening on to the roof; and when we let down the band for Miss Kit, her
light, little form followed readily enough.

"Down," said the captain, crouching in the gutter of the parapet and
beginning to crawl along it.

We followed painfully and slowly, finding the journey very long, and
expecting any moment to hear the pursuer behind.

Presently we came to a halt, and saw our conductor remove some slates
and discover an opening into the house below.

Once more the linen band came into requisition. The ladies were lowered
into the room. The captain and I paused to set the slates, so that no
one should be able to detect the place of our entrance. Then he swung
himself over the parapet on to the ledge of the little window below,
bidding me follow. Next moment we stood, all four of us, in a tiny
chamber, no bigger than a cupboard, with nothing in it but a little bed,
a chair, and a shelf, on which stood a loaf and a bottle of wine.

"Welcome to my humble quarters, cousins," said he. "They are neither
large nor water-tight, but I natter myself they are airy and command an
extensive view. We will be safe here till night, but then we must seek
something more spacious and secluded."

And with all the grace in the world, he poured out a glass of wine for
my lady and begged her to drink it.

Presently Miss Kit said, with the first smile I had seen on her face
that day,--

"I am too bewildered to ask questions, otherwise I should like to know
how all this has come to pass."

"Not now," said he. "I am as bewildered and perplexed as you are.--
Gallagher, go to your daily work, but return early; and bring with
you,"--here he handed me a gold piece--"provisions for a journey."

It was hard to be dismissed thus at a moment of peril. But my little
lady's wo