the sentry would
not be likely to see me, in the shade of the wall, I will take care to
cross the open spaces when his back is turned. I will then come
straight here for you, and we will make for the wall behind the
governor's house. There is no sentry on that side, for that steep
ravine covers it from attack there. However, there are six or eight
feet of level ground between the foot of the wall and the edge of the
ravine. The walls are twenty feet in height. With fifty feet of that
rope I will make a ladder, and will get hold of a piece of iron to
make a grapnel of. How much time can you give me?"

"I should think we could stay here today and tomorrow, without seeming
to be dawdling without reason. Do you think you could get ready by
tomorrow night, Father?"

"Yes, that will give me plenty of time. Let me see. There is the short
ladder to make. That won't take me over an hour. There are a hundred
bits to cut for the long ladder, putting them about two feet apart.
That will be a longish job, for the spear shafts are of very tough
wood. However, I have a saw, and some oil, which will prevent it
making a noise, and can make fairly quick work of it. I have several
tools, too. I very often do carpentering jobs of all sorts--that is
what first made the governor take to me. I can get all that part of
the work done today. Tonight I will do the knotting. Of course, I
shall make it a goodish bit over two hundred feet long, for it may
turn out that I have not judged the depth right, and that the cliff is
higher than I thought it was.

"I don't think sawing up the spear shafts will take more than an hour
or two, so I shall be able to show myself about the place as usual. I
will go over and take a good look at the rock again, and stick a spear
head into the ground, at the point where it seems to me that it goes
down straightest, and where there is the least chance of the rope
getting rubbed against a sharp edge. I sha'n't begin at the wall until
tomorrow, for I don't suppose I shall be able to get out the first few
stones without making a bit of a noise, and it would not do to work at
night.

"Now, lad, I think we can consider that as all settled, and I won't
come near you again, unless there is some change of plan. I shall be
here tomorrow evening, I hope it will be by ten o'clock--that must
depend upon how long it takes me to get down the outside layer of
stone.

"If you should hear a sudden row, make at once for the wall