g them off. Shoving them up into a dark corner, we again hurried
out, in the hopes of falling in with Captain Radford. It still wanted
several minutes to the time when I expected to meet them. We had taken
our station near the wall at a convenient spot whence we could watch it.
Great was our delight when we saw a rope ladder let over the wall, and,
one by one, a number of armed men descending by it. Among them I
recognised Captain Radford and A'Dale. We hurried forward to meet them.
The former Master Overton warmly embraced.

"Brother of my sainted wife," said the captain; "I little expected thus
to meet you! We parted in anger: we meet as real brothers."

There was no time for the exchange of further words, but the men forming
in close order, we marched steadily along the narrow streets. At
another time this would have been impossible; but there was, at present,
little risk of any one interfering with our proceedings. At length we
reached the door which Jacob Naas had marked, and, with an agitated
heart, at once stepped forward and gave the number of raps agreed on
with old Dame Trond. It was an anxious moment. I counted the seconds
as they passed by, dreading lest, after all, she might have played us
false, or have been unable to accomplish her purpose. Crowbars had been
brought by our party, and it was agreed that, should the door not be
opened, we should force our way in. I waited anxiously, drawing my
breath with an unusual quickness. I listened: I fancied I heard a bolt
withdrawn. Slowly the door opened. I sprang forward, and caught sight
of a figure in the doorway. Could it be Aveline?

"Hush!" said a voice from within; "I will trust to you for my reward."

In another instant Aveline herself fell almost fainting into my arms.
She quickly recovered herself.

"Where is my father?" she asked. "Is he safe?"

Captain Radford stepped forward, and, supporting Aveline, we all hurried
towards the walls. There was no time to hear who had carried Aveline
off, or by what means she had been set free. I only knew that it was by
the promised instrumentality of the old woman, and felt that she, at all
events, deserved the reward I had agreed to pay. Few words were
exchanged among us till we got safely back to the wall. This had now to
be scaled. As yet, as far as we could ascertain, we had been
undiscovered. Two of the seamen volunteered to mount the wall first, to
see that our road was clear, and to