“Heaven forefend!” cried Wildschloss, with despair on his face unseen by the boys, for Friedel had hidden his eyes, and Ebbo was straining his with the intense gaze of horror. He had carried his glance downwards, following the 380 feet fall that must be the lot of the adventurer. Then looking up again he shouted, “I see him! I see him! Praise to St. Barbara! He is safe! He has caught by the upright stone work.”
“Where? where? Show me!” cried Wildschloss, grasping Ebbo’s arm.
“There! clinging to that upright bit of tracery, stretching his foot out to yonder crocket.”
“I cannot see. Mine eyes swim and dazzle,” said Wildschloss. “Merciful heavens! is this another tempting of Providence? How is it with him now, Ebbo?”
“Swarming down another slender bit of the stone network. It must be easy now to one who could keep head and hand steady in such a shock.”
“There!” added Friedel, after a breathless space, “he is on the lower parapet, whence begins the stair. Do you know him, sir? Who is he?”
“Either a Venetian mountebank,” said Wildschloss, “or else there is only one man I know of either so foolhardy or so steady of head.”
“Be he who he may,” said Ebbo, “he is the bravest man that ever I beheld. Who is he, Sir Kasimir?”
“An eagle of higher flight than ours, no doubt,” said Wildschloss. “But come; we shall reach the Dome Kirk by the time the climber has wound his way down the turret stairs, and we shall see what like he is.”
Their coming was well timed, for a small door at the foot of the tower was just opening to give exit to a very tall knight, in one of those short Spanish cloaks the collar of which could be raised so as to conceal the face. He looked to the right and left, and had one hand raised to put up the collar when he recognized Sir Kasimir, and, holding out both hands, exclaimed, “Ha, Adlerstein! well met! I looked to see thee here. No unbonneting; I am not come yet. I am at Strasburg, with the Kaisar and the Archduke, and am not here till we ride in, in purple and in pall by the time the good folk have hung out their arras, and donned their gold chains, and conned their speeches, and mounted their mules.”