Zenda; the pipe was gone, and the dungeon's window, though still
barred, was uncovered. The night was clear and fine, and the
still water gleamed fitfully as the moon, half-full, escaped from
or was hidden by passing clouds. Sapt stood staring out gloomily,
beating his knuckles on the stone sill. The fresh air was there,
but the fresh idea tarried.

Suddenly the constable bent forward, craning his head out and
down, far as he could stretch it, towards the water. What he had
seen, or seemed dimly to see, is a sight common enough on the
surface of water--large circular eddies, widening from a centre;
a stone thrown in makes them, or a fish on the rise. But Sapt had
thrown no stone, and the fish in the moat were few and not rising
then. The light was behind Sapt, and threw his figure into bold
relief. The royal apartments looked out the other way; there were
no lights in the windows this side the bridge, although beyond it
the guards' lodgings and the servants' offices still showed a
light here and there. Sapt waited till the eddies ceased. Then he
heard the faintest sound, as of a large body let very gently into
the water; a moment later, from the moat right below him, a man's
head emerged.

"Sapt!" said a voice, low but distinct.

The old colonel started, and, resting both hands on the sill,
bent further out, till he seemed in danger of overbalancing.

"Quick--to the ledge on the other side. You know," said the
voice, and the head turned; with quick, quiet strokes the man
crossed the moat till he was hidden in the triangle of deep shade