acles in our path. As to
myself, I became so thoroughly confused by constant turning and
climbing as to grow completely lost, but fortunately the priest kept a
somewhat clearer brain, and, after groping blindly for some time,
pausing occasionally as though he would smell his way like a dog,
managed to put hand at last upon the object of his patient search.

"'T is here," he whispered. "Shall I go up?"

"Ay!" I returned hopefully, glad I had restrained the impatience of my
tongue. "But try each rung before you venture stepping on it; they may
prove rotten and give way beneath your weight."

He swung himself up, after carefully tucking in his robe about the
waist, but the ladder creaked so alarmingly beneath his tread I durst
not venture my heavier weight upon it until he had safely reached the
top. Finally the noise of his climbing ceased, and I could hear a
board move high above me.

"Are you up safe?" I questioned in a low voice.

"All safe, praise be to God," came the cautious response; "but thou
wilt do well, friend, to exercise grave care, as the way is bad."

It required brief exploration to convince us that this second story
possessed a strong, firm floor, although there remained some danger of
there being traps in it for the hoisting of cotton, while the boards
might not extend over the entire surface. By this time, however, our
eyes had grown somewhat accustomed to the intense blackness enveloping
us, so the slightest change in the prevailing gloom became quickly
apparent. The air was so fresh and pure, with such a taste of the
night in it, I became convinced there must be an opening somewhere
close at hand, and whispered the suggestion to my companion. He proved
keener of vision than I, for even as we thus spoke he plucked my sleeve
and pointed upward.

"Then surely it will be yonder," he exclaimed, with more eagerness of
voice than I had before marked in him. "There is certainly a lightness
to the atmosphere overhead, as if it came from a direct opening to the
sky."

It appeared true even to me, now that he had pointed out the spot.

"It must be the roof hatch uplifted. Now if we discover a ladder
leading thereto I shall accept it as proof that God guideth us this
night, and feel new courage."

"Our work is of God," said the _pere_ solemnly, "or I should never be
here with you, and engaged upon it."

"Nor have I ever doubted it, father," I made haste to answer, creeping
cautiously forwar