Each of them seized a branch, and they were soon in the tree. By their united strength they succeeded in pulling the ladder up after them to the top of the tree, where they lowered it like a drawbridge, and found to their intense satisfaction that while one end rested firmly upon a stout branch, the other end extended two or three feet beyond the wall.
"But when we are upon the wall, what are we to do?" Aubry inquired.
"Why, when we're upon the wall we will pull the ladder after us, and go down by it."
"Very good. There is only one trifling difficulty, and that is that the wall is twenty-five feet high, and the ladder only twelve."
"I have provided for that," said Ascanio, unwinding the rope from his body. He then made one end fast to the trunk of the tree, and threw the other over the wall.
"Ah! great man, I understand you," cried Aubry, "and I am proud and happy to break my neck with you."
"Very well! what do you propose to do?"
"Go across," and Aubry prepared to cross the space that lay between them and the wall.
"No, no!" said Ascanio, "it is my place to go first."
"Which finger is wet?" said Aubry, holding out his hand to his companion with two fingers open and two closed.