e great iron-clad door was; then came living-rooms and
storage, and an open space at the top. This would probably be thought
the best place for the prisoner, for it was deep-sunk within the massive
walls, wherein was no loophole of any kind. This, if it should so
happen, would be the disposition of things best for our plan. The guards
would at this time be all inside the Tower--probably resting, most of
them--so that it was possible that no one might notice the coming of the
airship. I was afraid to think that all might turn out so well, for in
such case our task would be a simple enough one, and would in all human
probability be crowned with success.

At ten o'clock we started. Teuta did not show the smallest sign of fear
or even uneasiness, though this was the first time she had even seen an
aeroplane at work. She proved to be an admirable passenger for an
airship. She stayed quite still, holding herself rigidly in the position
arranged, by the cords which I had fixed for her.

When I had trued my course by the landmarks and with the compass lit by
the Tiny my electric light in the dark box, I had time to look about me.
All seemed quite dark wherever I looked--to land, or sea, or sky. But
darkness is relative, and though each quarter and spot looked dark in
turn, there was not such absolute darkness as a whole. I could tell the
difference, for instance, between land and sea, no matter how far off we
might be from either. Looking upward, the sky was dark; yet there was
light enough to see, and even distinguish broad effects. I had no
difficulty in distinguishing the Tower towards which we were moving, and
that, after all, was the main thing. We drifted slowly, very slowly, as
the air was still, and I only used the minimum pressure necessary for the
engine. I think I now understood for the first time the extraordinary
value of the engine with which my Kitson was equipped. It was noiseless,
it was practically of no weight, and it allowed the machine to progress
as easily as the old-fashioned balloon used to drift before a breeze.
Teuta, who had naturally very fine sight, seemed to see even better than
I did, for as we drew nearer to the Tower, and its round, open top began
to articulate itself, she commenced to prepare for her part of the task.
She it was who uncoiled the long drag-rope ready for her lowering. We
were proceeding so gently that she as well as I had hopes that I might be
able to actually bal