not be simpler. Go up it, and you will find that the top branch
will enable you to step upon the roof of that house. After that
it is your guardian angel who must be your guide, for I can help
you no more."

Girding up the heavy brown gown, I ascended the tree as directed.
A half moon was shining brightly, and the line of roof stood out
dark and hard against the purple, starry sky. The tree was in
the shadow of the house.

Slowly I crept from branch to branch until I was near the top. I
had but to climb along a stout limb in order to reach the wall.
But suddenly my ears caught the patter of feet, and I cowered
against the trunk and tried to blend myself with its shadow. A
man was coming toward me on the roof. I saw his dark figure
creeping along, his body crouching, his head advanced, the barrel
of his gun protruding. His whole bearing was full of caution and
suspicion. Once or twice he paused, and then came on again until
he had reached the edge of the parapet within a few yards of me.
Then he knelt down, levelled his musket, and fired.

I was so astonished at this sudden crash at my very elbow that I
nearly fell out of the tree. For an instant I could not be sure
that he had not hit me. But when I heard a deep groan from
below, and the Spaniard leaned over the parapet and laughed
aloud, I understood what had occurred. It was my poor, faithful
sergeant, who had waited to see the last of me. The Spaniard had
seen him standing under the tree and had shot him. You will
think that it was good shooting in the dark, but these people
used trabucos, or blunderbusses, which were filled up with all