and that they also would be
involved in his destruction. Fortunately the difficulties of the road,
the necessity of looking out for the best path among the rocks, and of
watching for the approach of any person who might interrupt them,
prevented him from dwelling so deeply on the subject as to unfit him for
the work.

His heart beat quick as he approached the tower; and, wringing his
friends' hands as they hurried on to prepare the boat they had fixed on,
he remained under Ada's window with the coil of rope, promising to
follow, as soon as possible, with Miss Garden and her companions. Jack
Raby was on the watch, and appeared at the window as he got under it.
So well had the midshipman arranged everything, that not a word was
spoken. He let a line down, which he had made by unstranding a piece of
rope, and twisting up some bits of the carpet; and, though composed of
so many materials, it was sufficiently strong for the purpose; and with
it he hauled up the end of the rope and the block through which it was
to run. The block he at once, with a sailor's quickness, securely
fastened on to the iron bar; and, reeving the rope through it, he
fastened one end to the chair he had arranged, and then, putting the
chair out of the window, he jumped into it, holding on by the other part
of the rope, and lowered himself down to Fleetwood's feet.

"All right, sir," he whispered. "I thought it better to try the length
of the rope and the strength of my chair, before we trusted Miss Garden
in it. She is in capital heart, sir, and so is my new sister. Now,
sir, if you will stand by the end, I'll go up again to help her into the
chair, and bear it off the wall. I can't ask you to haul me up, sir."

"No, no, jump in, my lad, and be careful, in Heaven's name, that you
secure Miss Garden properly," said Fleetwood, pressing his hand; and he
quickly hauled him up again to the window, and the chair once more
appeared, with Ada seated in it, a shawl thrown round her, in true
man-of-war fashion. Raby had taken care to have everything properly
prepared.

"Now, sir, lower away gently, if you please," he whispered, as he leaned
out of the window; and Ada Garden safely descended into Fleetwood's
arms. A silent embrace was all he would allow himself, before he hauled
up the chair to lower down Marianna, who accomplished the transit with
the same speed as her mistress. Jack Raby did not immediately descend,
but, hauling up the rope, he