e trap."

"It would be no good, Jem; because if they found the trap fast, they'd
be on the watch for us outside."

"Dessay you're right, sir. Well, what do you say? Shall we begin now,
or wait?"

Don looked up at the fast darkening skylight, and then, after a moment's
hesitation,--

"Let's begin now, Jem. It will take some time."

"That's right, Mas' Don; so here goes, and good luck to us. It means
home, and your mother, and my Sally; or going to fight the French."

"And we don't want to be obliged to fight without we like, Jem."

"That's true," said Jem; and going quickly to the trap, he laid his ear
to the crack and listened.

"All right, my lad. Have it out," he said; and the sacks were cast
aside, and the rope withdrawn. "Will it bear us, Jem?"

"I'm going to try first, and if it'll bear me it'll bear you."

"But you can't get up there."

"No, but you can, my lad; and when you're there you can fasten the rope
to that cross-bar, and then I can soon be with you. Ready?"

"Wait till I've got off my shoes."

"That's right; stick 'em in your pockets, my lad. Now then, ready?"

Don signified his readiness. Jem laid him a back up at the end wall.
Don mounted, and then jumped down again.

"What's the matter?"

"I haven't got the rope."

"My: what a head I have!" cried Jem, as Don tightly knotted the rope
about his waist; and then, mounting on his companion's back once more,
was borne very slowly, steadying himself by the sloping roof, till the
window was reached.

"Hold fast, Jem."

"Right it is, my lad."

There was a clicking of the iron fastening, the window was thrust up
higher and higher, till it was to the full extent of the ratchet
support, and then by passing one arm over the light cross-beam, which
divided the opening in two, Don was able to raise himself, and throw his
leg over the front of the opening, so that the next minute he was
sitting on the edge with one leg down the sloping roof, and the other
hanging inside, but in a very awkward position, on account of the broad
skylight.

"Can't you open it more?" said Jem.

"No; that's as far as the fastening will hold it up."

"Push it right over, Mas' Don, so as it may lie back against the roof.
Mind what you're doing, so as you don't slip. But you'll be all right.
I've got the rope, and won't let it go."

Don did as he was told, taking tightly hold of the long cross central
bar, and placing his knees, and then his feet, agai