sound would, they feared, be heard; though
the distance did not appear more than an active man could leap without
danger. But the walls were broken and crumbling, and it was difficult
to find a spot on which they could depend, to take their last hold of
before dropping off. After proceeding a few paces to the right,
however, the wall appeared more even.

"Now, my friends," whispered Fleetwood, "I will lead the way, and try
the depth--the ground below seems free from stone--and, by grasping the
ends of your handkerchiefs, I may fall without the fear of breaking my
legs."

On this, the other three, as proposed, formed a rope with their
handkerchiefs; and all of them leaning over the wall.

Fleetwood threw himself off; and, grasping the handkerchiefs, lowered
himself till he reached the end, and then dropped. The fall was
considerably greater than he expected--for the ground sloped away on
that side of the ruin, in a manner on which they had not calculated; and
he had great reason to congratulate himself on the precaution he had
taken. The other two adventurers insisted on Bowse, who was the
heaviest man of the party, following next. He could now better judge of
the depth; and Fleetwood, having rolled away all the loose stones, he
fell without injury. The Greek came next, and was caught in the arms of
his companions; and Pietro, in like manner, dropped down, the rest
saving him as he fell. This feat accomplished, they all breathed more
freely; and crouching down on the ground to avoid being seen, they
listened attentively to ascertain if any one was moving, before they
again put themselves in motion. Not a sound disturbed the silence of
the night; and, satisfied that they were not discovered, they crept
cautiously on towards the eastward, under the shadow of the wall, in the
manner Nina had led Fleetwood on the previous night. It still wanted an
hour and a half to the time he had desired Ada to be prepared; and he
resolved to employ the interval in ascertaining whether the door of her
tower was locked; and, if he found it so, to proceed to the mistico, and
procure the cordage which might be required. Leaving his companions,
therefore, seated on the ground, in a sheltered rock, he walked to the
tower alone.

He first looked carefully on every side; and, having ascertained that no
one was near, he approached the door. It was locked--as he feared it
might be--and, after the most minute examination, he could di