"A rope with which Donellan had provided himself, was
secured to one of the iron hooks that support the pullies
immediately above the gate. With this they swung themselves
in succession to the opposite bank."

The members of the court looked at each other, apparently
glad that an answer so confirmatory of the truth of the
prisoner's statement, had been thus readily given.

"Were they to have returned in the same manner?" pursued
the president, framing his interrogatory from the contents
of another slip of paper, which, at the suggestion of
the governor, had been passed to him by the prosecutor,
Mr. Lawson.

"They were," firmly replied the prisoner. "At least I
presumed they were, for, I believe in the hurry of Captain
de Haldimar's departure, he never once made any direct
allusion to the manner of his return; nor did it occur
to me until this moment how they were to regain possession
of the rope, without assistance from within."

"Of course," observed Colonel de Haldimar, addressing
the president, "the rope still remains. Mr. Lawson,
examine the gate, and report accordingly."

The adjutant hastened to acquit himself of this laconic
order, and soon afterwards returned, stating not only
that there was no rope, but that the hook alluded to had