and! He replaced it, just to see if it would be all
right. It was the simplest thing in the world, you could not tell that
it had been touched. So he took it out again, laid it aside carefully,
and considered.

He had no rope, but there was a leather belt, which he buckled round one
of the other bars, dropping the end outside. Perhaps that would give
rather a slight grip, so he also got out a woollen scarf, such as is
sometimes called a "comforter," which he possessed, and fastened that to
the bar also. With that there could be no difficulty in getting in
again. Should he give Penryhn or any other fellow a chance of
accompanying him? Well, on the whole, no. It was impossible that it
should be discovered, but still, apparent impossibilities do happen
sometimes. Suppose one of the masters had a fancy for a moonlight
skate! He did not mind risking his own skin, when the risk was so
slight, but to get another fellow into a row was an awful idea.
Besides, two would make more noise getting out and in than one, and the
other might laugh, or call out, or play the fool in some way or another.
And as for being alone in the expedition, Buller rather liked that than
otherwise. He was rather given to going his own way, and carrying out
his own ideas unhampered by other people's suggestions.

So he quickly determined to keep his counsel and disturb no one. He had
blown his candle out before first trying the bar, and had been working
by the bright moonlight. Then he fastened his skates round his neck, so
that they should neither impede his movements, nor clatter, and put one
leg out of window, then the other, turned round, let himself down by the
hands, and dropped into the lane. He looked up to see that the scarf
was hanging all right; it was within easy reach of both hands; he gave
it a pull to try it, and being satisfied, got over into the field, and
started at a jog-trot for the gravel-pits. It was glorious; utter
stillness--the clear sheet of ice flooded with the moonbeams, a romantic
sense of solitude, and a touch of triumphant feeling in having got the
best of the world, and utilising such a magnificent time, while others
were wasting it in bed. He put his skates on and began. Whether the
exhilaration of stealing a march upon everybody, or the impossibility of
running up against anyone, or the confidence inspired by solitude, and
the absolute freedom from being laughed at if he fell, were the cause,
he had nev