old fast, and step up on to my
shoulders as I rise myself up; that's the way," he continued, slowly
straightening himself, and placing his hands behind Don's legs, as he
stood up, steadily, facing the wall.

"What next, Jem?"

"Next, sir? Why, I'm going to walk slowly back under the window, for
you to try and open it, and look out and see where we are. Ready?"

"Yes."

"Hold tight, sir."

"But there's nothing to hold by, Jem, when you move away."

"Then you must stand fast, sir, and I'll balance you like. I can do
it."

Don drew a long breath, and felt no faith, for as soon as Jem moved
steadily from the wall, his ability in balancing was not great.

"Stand firm, sir. I've got you," he said.

"Am I too heavy, Jem?"

"Heavy? No, sir; I could carry two on you. Stand fast; 'tarn't far.
Stand fast. That's your sort. Stand--oh!"

Everything depended upon him, and poor Jem did his best; but after three
or four steps Don felt that he was going, and to save himself from a
fall he tried to jump lightly down.

This would have been easy enough had not Jem been so earnest. He, too,
felt that it was all wrong, and to save his companion, he tightened his
hold of the calves of Don's legs as the lad stood erect on his
shoulders.

The consequence was that he gave Don sufficient check as he leaped to
throw him off his balance; and in his effort to save him, Jem lost his
own, and both came down with a crash and sat up and rubbed and looked at
each other.

"Arn't hurt, are you, Mas' Don?"

"Not hurt?" grumbled Don. "I am hurt horribly."

"I'm very sorry, sir; so am I. But I arn't broke nowhere! Are you?"

"Broken? No!" said Don rising. "There, let's try again."

"To be sure, sir. Come, I like that."

"Look here, Jem. When you straighten up, let me steady myself with my
hands on the sloping ceiling there; now try."

The former process was gone through, after listening to find all silent
below; and Don stood erect once more, supporting himself by the wall.

"Now edge round gently, Jem. That's right."

Jem obeyed, and by progressing very slowly, they got to within about ten
feet of the window, which Don saw that he could reach easily, when the
balance was lost once more.

"Don't hold, Jem!" cried Don; and he leaped backwards, to come down all
right this time.

By no means discouraged, they went back to the end; and this time, by
progressing more slowly, the window was reached, and, to their gre