distances. He began unwinding the rope, and when he had done he
was as thin as ever he had been before. Next he drew from the
pouch that hung at his side a ball of fine cord and a leaden
weight pierced by a hole, both of which he had brought with him
for the use to which he now put them. He tied the lead to the
end of the cord, then whirling the weight above his head, he
flung it up toward the window high above. Twice the piece of
lead fell back again into the room; the third time it flew out
between the iron bars carrying the cord with it. Hans held the
ball in his hand and paid out the string as the weight carried
it downward toward the ground beneath. Suddenly the cord stopped
running. Hans jerked it and shook it, but it moved no farther.
"Pray heaven, little child," said he, "that it hath reached the
ground, for if it hath not we are certainly lost."

"I do pray," said Otto, and he bowed his head.

Then, as though in answer to his prayer, there came a twitch
upon the cord.

"See," said Hans, "they have heard thee up above in heaven; it
was thy father who did that." Quickly and deftly he tied the
cord to the end of the knotted rope; then he gave an answering
jerk upon the string. The next moment the rope was drawn up to
the window and down the outside by those below. Otto lay
watching the rope as it crawled up to the window and out into
the night like a great snake, while One-eyed Hans held the other
end lest it should be drawn too far. At last it stopped. "Good,"
muttered Hans, as though to himself. "The rope is long enough."