y feet from the ground. If, by standing on the upper
rungs, could reach within five yards of the window, I knew that I should
be able to scramble up so far by a rope. There was no difficulty about a
rope. I had a good eighteen yards of choice stout rope there in the room
with me, the lashings of my two trunks. I was about to pay this out into
the lane, when I thought that would be far more effective if I fashioned
a ladder for myself, using the two trunk lashings as the uprights. This
was a glorious thought. I tied the lashings together behind the wooden
bed-post which was to be my support in midair. Then I rummaged out a
hank of sailor's spunyarn, a kind of very strong tarred string, with
which to make my steps, or rungs, did not do this very well, for I was
working in the dark, but you may be sure that I made those steps with
all my strength, since my bones were to depend upon them. I ran short of
spunyarn before I had finished, so my last three steps were made of the
fire-irons. They made a good finish to the whole; for, being heavy, they
kept the ladder steady. At least thought that they would keep the ladder
steady, in the innocence of my heart.

I was so excited, when I finished the tying of the tongs, that I almost
forgot to take some money from the little store which I kept locked up
in my trunk. A shilling would be ample, I thought; but I took rather
more than that, so as to be on the safe side. I took the precaution,
before leaving, of bolting my door from the inside, lest Ephraim should
visit me in my absence.

Then, having tested all my knots, I paid out my ladder from the window.
No one was within sight along the lane. Downstairs they were at supper,
for I heard the dining-room bell ring. Very cautiously I swung myself
over the window ledge on my adventure. Now a rope ladder is an unsteady
thing at the best of times; but when I swung myself on to this one it
jumped about like a wild colt, banging the fire-irons against the wall,
making noise enough to raise the town. I had to climb down it on the
inner side, or I should have had Ephraim out to see what the matter was.
Even so, my heart was in my mouth, with fright, as I stepped on to the
pavement. After making sure that no one saw, I hooked up the lower ends
of my ladder as far as I could reach, so that a passer-by might run less
chance of seeing them. Then I scuttled off to the delights of Eastcheap,
thinking what glorious sport I could have with this ladd