"If you can make it hold at all," laughed Donald, "I'm willing to make the effort. At best I can only fall back into the water."
"True," declared the officer. "We'll try it."
A grapnel was tied to a long line, such as is used in tying the launch to the shore, and after several vain attempts the grapnel caught in the top of the wall.
Donald sprang forward and tested it with his weight and it held. Then, without another word, he braced his feet against the wall and in almost less time than it takes to write it, he was at the top.
"Do you see any one?" asked the officer from below.
"No, sir; but there is the sound of pacing footsteps on the walk that runs along the side of the house."
"Good! Now make fast the grapnel and we will see if there are a dozen men here who can climb to the top."
The dozen were quickly found and they were soon at the top of the wall. The officer finally decided to add to their armament one of the rapid-firers.
"If there is any resistance," he said, "we'll knock the side of the house in."
"What shall I do?" asked Donald.