eps two at a time, the fugitives dashed upward,
presently coming to a kind of landing from which several stone-flagged
passages radiated; thence they climbed up another narrow staircase which
led to the flat roof. They went up this last so quickly that Drake, who
was leading, had popped his head up above the level of the parapet
before he realised what he was doing. Luckily, none of the pirates
happened to be looking upward at that particular moment; they were all
riding helter-skelter down the street, evidently determined to see what
lay at the end. Drake counted them before getting under cover again,
and found that there were thirty of them; and that there might possibly
be others searching elsewhere, was a contingency to be kept in mind.

Frobisher had now also crept out on to the roof through the small
opening, or trap-door, at the top of the stairs, and both men cautiously
peeped over the low parapet. And as they watched, they saw the horsemen
come to a halt opposite the identical house they were in, evidently
discussing matters. Some appeared to think that the men they wanted had
not come that way at all, while others--these the majority--believed
differently, and seemed to want to search every house in the street. At
any rate they had certainly made up their minds to search this
particular dwelling, for they began to dismount outside the doorway.

"We're bottled at last, I'm afraid," said Frobisher. "What do you say
to our opening fire on 'em now?"

"Not yet," whispered Drake. "Let's see first if there isn't another way
down. If once they discover our presence here, they will get us for
certain; for we have only six shots left between us. I couldn't bring
any spare cartridge for reloads."

"Phew!" whistled Frobisher under his breath. "That's bad. We are in a
tight place indeed, then. Come, let's see if there's any other way
down."

They crept silently away from the parapet toward the back of the house,
and, to their intense gratification, discovered a flight of ruined stone
steps leading down the outside of the wall to a narrow alley in the
rear. Down these steps they at once made their way, then ran at top
speed up the alley and out of the end of it into one of the broader
streets of the city. They had now got a good start, for it would take
some little time for the pirates to ride round, even if they should
chance to catch sight of the fugitives. But no shouts were raised
behind them to ind