We stepped across the sward and stood under the balcony.

"Grace, my darling, is that you?" I called in a low voice.

"Yes, Herbert. Oh, please be quick. I am fancying I hear footsteps.
My heart is scarcely beating for fright."

But despite the tremble in her low, sweet voice my ear seemed to find
strength of purpose enough in it to satisfy me that there would be no
failure from want of courage on her part. I could just discern the
outline of her figure as she leaned over the balcony, and see the white
of her face vague as a fancy.

"My darling, lower the line to pull the ladder up with--very softly, my
pet--there are iron hooks which make a noise."

In a few moments she called: "I have lowered the line."

I felt about with my hand and grasped the end of it--a piece of twine,
but strong enough to support the ladder. The deep, blood-hound-like
baying of the dog recommenced, and at the same time I heard a sound of
footsteps in the lane.

"Hist! Not a stir--not a whisper," I breathed out.

It was the staggering step of a drunken man. He broke maudlingly into
a song when immediately abreast of us, ceased his noise suddenly and
halted. This was a little passage of agony, I can assure you! The dog
continued to utter its sullen, deep-throated bark in single strokes
like the beat of a bell. Presently there was a sound as of the
scrambling and crunching of feet, followed with the noise of a lurching
tread; the man fell to drunkenly singing to himself again and so passed
away up the lane.

Caudel fastened the end of the twine to the ladder, and then grunted
out: "All ready for hoisting."

"Grace, my sweet," I whispered, "do you hear me?"

"Distinctly, dearest; but I am so frightened!"

"Pull up this ladder softly and hook the irons on to the rim of the
balcony."

"Blast that dawg!" growled Caudel, "dummed if I don't think he smells
us."

The ladder went rising into the air.

"It is hooked, Herbert."

"All right, Caudel, swing off upon the end of it--test it, and then
aloft with you for mercy's sake!"

The three metal rungs held the ropes bravely stretched apart. The
seaman sprang, and the ladder held as though it had been the shrouds of
a man-of-war.

"Now, Caudel, you are a seaman--you must do the rest," said I.

He had removed his boots, and, mounting with cat-like agility, gained
the balcony; then taking my sweetheart in his arms he lifted her over
the rail and lowered her with his powerful