could be made. If they succeeded, it must be through sheer good
fortune and not through prowess of mind or muscle. Once inside
the castle, how could they hope to follow the abductors at a safe
distance and still avoid the danger of being lost or of running
into trusty guards? The longer they lay there the more hazardous
became the part they had so recklessly ventured to play. In the
heart of each there surged a growing desire to abandon the plan,
yet neither could bring himself to the point of proposing the
retreat from the inspired undertaking. Both knew the sensible,
judicious act would be to alarm the guards and thus avoid all
possible chance of a fiasco. With misgivings and doubts in their
hearts the two self-appointed guardians of the Princess lay there
upon the grass, afraid to give up the project, yet fearing the
outcome.

"The dickens will be to pay, Lorry, if they dispose of this guard
on the inside and lock the gate. Then how are we to follow?"
whispered Anguish.

Lorry was thoughtful for a while. He felt the chill of
discouragement in his heart.

"In that case we must lie outside and wait till they come out
with the Princess. Then make a sudden assault and rescue her.
In the darkness we can make them think there are a dozen
rescuers," he whispered at length. After a while Anguish asked
another appalling question, the outgrowth of brain-racking study:

"Suppose these fellows, who will be in guards' uniform, should
turn about and capture us. What then? We are strangers, and our