Templemore felt about and caught hold of a small cord that was hanging inside the window—which was open to the air—and he pulled lightly at it till he felt the strain upon the rope to which it was attached, relaxed. Then he pulled harder, and a portion of a thicker rope came inside. By its means he was able to climb up on to the sill. With some trouble and manœuvring he got outside and was soon sliding down the rope, which Ergalon steadied from below. It was very dark, and he descended amidst some trees where it was darker still. When he touched the ground, at first, he could see nothing; but Ergalon turned on the light of a bull’s-eye lantern. It was one of those Monella had brought with him, and lent by him to Ergalon.
A voice, that he knew to be Zonella’s, whispered,
“That has been well done. Now what do you propose to do?”
“I must get down to the canyon by which we came into the mountain. There we have left spare weapons. But I can’t get down in the dark; not even, I fear, with the lantern.”
“There will be a moon later; perhaps that will help. Let us go in that direction.”
“What! you, too?” Jack asked in surprise.
“Yes, why not? I shall be as safe with you as in the midst of Coryon’s hateful minions, and I may be of service.”
“You couldn’t climb down that place and up again,” Jack reminded her.
“Then I can wait near the top, and Ergalon can go with you to help you carry what you want.”
“But we shall be a long time, all day to-morrow.”