in from below or from above; one hole or the other must be a good deal
deeper than the iron, so that it was either shoved up or pushed down
until the other end could get under or over the other hole. I should
think most likely the hole is below, as if they held up the bar against
the top, when the lead was poured in it would fill up the space; so we
will first of all try to lift it. I must stand on your head again to
enable me to be high enough to try this."

"My head is strong enough, I warrant," Ralph replied, "but I will fold
up my jerkin, and put on it, for in truth you hurt me somewhat when you
were tying the strap to the bar."

All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the
slightest, and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and
lifted while the space was filled with lead. "It is best so," he said;
"we should have to cut away the stone either above or below, and can
work much better below. Now I will put my knee in the strap again and
set to work. The stone seems greatly softened by the wet, and will yield
to our daggers readily enough. It is already getting dark, and as soon
as we have finished we can start."

As Walter had discovered, the stone was rotten with the action of the
weather, and although as they got deeper it became much harder, it
yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers, and in two hours
Ralph, who at the moment happened to be engaged, announced to Walter
that his dagger had found its way under the bottom of the bar. The
groove was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out; but
another hour's work was necessary, somewhat further to enlarge the upper
hole, so as to allow the bar to have sufficient play. Fortunately it was
only inserted about an inch and a half in the stone, and the amount to
be cut away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large. Then at
last all was ready for their flight.

CHAPTER XVII: THE CAPTURE OF CALAIS

When the bar was once ready for removal the captives delayed not a
minute, for although it was now so late that there was little chance
of a visit being paid them, it was just possible that such might be the
case, and that it might occur to the knight that it would be safer to
separate them.

"Now, Ralph, do you go first, since I am lighter and can climb up by
means of the strap, which you can hold from above; push the bar out and
lay it down quietly on the thickness of the wall. A splash might attract