, act quickly, that's all!"

She went over to the window and peered out cautiously, after a while
beckoning the child to join her.

"He is there," she murmured in his ear. Jimbo could only make out an
indistinct shadowy object crouching under the wall, and he was not even
positive of that.

"Does he know we're going?" he asked in an awed whisper.

"He's there on the chance," she muttered, drawing back into the room.
"When there's a possibility of any one getting frightened he's bound to
be lurking about somewhere near. That's Fright all over. But he can't
hurt you," she added, "because you're not going to get frightened.
Besides, he can only fly when it's dark; and to-night we shall have the
moon."

"I'm not afraid," declared the boy in spite of a rather fluttering
heart.

"Are you ready?" was all she said.

At last, then, the moment had come. It was actually beside him, waiting,
full of mystery and wonder, with alarm not far behind. The sun was
buried below the horizon of the world, and the dusk had deepened into
night. Stars were shining overhead; the leaves were motionless; not a
breath stirred; the earth was silent and waiting.

"Yes, I'm ready," he whispered, almost inaudibly.

"Then listen," she said, "and I'll tell you exactly what to do: Jump
upwards from the window ledge as high as you can, and the moment you
begin to drop, open your wings and strike with all your might. You'll
rise at once. The thing to remember is to _rise as quickly as possible_,
because the wall prevents a long, easy, sweeping rise; and, whatever
happens, you must clear that wall!"

"I shan't touch the ground then?" asked a faint little voice.

"Of course not! You'll get near it, but the moment you use your wings
you'll stop sinking, and rise up, up, up, ever so quickly."

"And where to?"

"To me. You'll see me waiting for you above the trees. Steering will
come naturally; it's quite easy."

Jimbo was already shaking with excitement. He could not help it. And he
knew, in spite of all Miss Lake's care, that Fright was waiting in the
yard to catch him if he fell, or sank too near the ground.

"I'll go first," added the governess, "and the moment you see that I've
cleared the wall you must jump after me. Only do not keep me waiting!"

The girl stood for a minute in silence, arranging her wings. Her fingers
were trembling a little. Suddenly she drew the boy to her and kissed him
passionately.

"Be brave!" she whispered, lo