r of the
night. The difficulties of escape by way of the front were great, and
might very possibly prove insurmountable; I therefore determined to make
my first attempt at the back.

Keeping close within the deepest part of the shadow, I moved cautiously
in the direction of the guard-room; and had just gained the courtyard
when I heard footsteps entering the passage behind me. I darted out
from under the archway, and hastily concealed myself behind one of the
massive buttresses which supported the back wall of the building.
Peering cautiously out from my hiding-place, I saw the individual,
whoever he was, emerge from the archway, cross the yard, and enter the
guard-room.

Still crouching close behind the buttress, I looked carefully round to
note the possibilities of escape which presented themselves in the rear
of the tower. The yard, like the one in front, was enclosed by a wall,
but it was only about twelve feet high. On the other side of this wall,
looming indistinctly up against the murky sky, were some trees, one or
two of which appeared to be near enough to enable me to spring into
their branches, could I but reach the top of the wall.

At first I could see no way of doing this. But a little closer
scrutiny, and the exercise of a little consideration, at length
suggested a means of escape. A sort of wing, projecting out from the
main building of the old castle, formed one boundary of the courtyard,
and joined the wall, the top of which I desired to reach; and I suddenly
remembered the rough, uneven, and time-worn appearance of the masonry of
this building which had attracted my attention in the morning. I
thought that perhaps the masonry might be rough and uneven enough to
permit of my climbing the face of it; and, as it seemed to be the only
road of escape, I resolved to try it.

I accordingly made my way to the point which I had resolved to attack,
and set about the attempt. But I was unable to manage it. I found I
required something more than the slight hold I was able to obtain with
my hands, while working my way upward with my feet; and after a trial
which must have lasted quite an hour I found myself just where I had
started; namely, on the pavement of the courtyard.

Trembling with my violent exertions, and weak from my long fast (I had
neither eaten nor drank since breakfast the previous morning), I was
almost on the point of despairing, when a bright idea occurred to me. I
would attempt m