it?"

I made no answer for a moment; I was groping about in the darkness of
our narrow quarters to see if I could determine exactly where we were.

"How high is this house, Jed, do you know?"

"Three stories an' attic."

"How far up are we?"

"'Bout halfway 'long ther third story, I reckon; must be jist b'low
whar ye are thet I stuck my fut down an openin'. Reckon 't was 'nother
fireplace, like thet one on ther first flure."

I lowered myself silently, and felt along the stones until I located
the opening, and roughly measured its dimensions.

"I shall have to risk crawling out here, Jed," I said finally, "for I
shall surely stick fast if I go up another ten feet. Do you suppose you
can squeeze through to the top?"

"I reckon I kin," he returned calmly. "'Just as the minstrel's sounds
were stayed, a stranger climbed the steepy glade.' But hadn't we better
stick tergether, Cap?" "No," I answered firmly. "You go on, and one of
us must get through to Lee. Don't mind me at all; get down from the
roof as best you can. If I am caught it will be all the more important
that you should succeed."

"'Tis done--'I thank thee, Roderick, for the word; it nerves my heart,