“Yes, of course. I’d forgotten.”
“Strong un?”
“The new one I got for the fishing-net,” said Waller.
“That’ll do it. Now then, let me look out while you get it. You make it fast to the big window-bar while I just try and see what they are doing. I want to make sure that they all go in and leave the way clear for us to slide down. Once we can get to the woods we shall be all right.”
“Make sure,” whispered Waller, “that they don’t leave a sentry by the porch.”
Bunny grunted, and as silently as he could Waller took his coil of rope from the drawer, fastened it again to the beam, and, as soon as the man drew in his head, prepared to lower it down.
“It’s all right, my lad. Be quick. Some of them has gone round to the back, and your gal Bella has just let t’others in by the front door. Here, I’ll go down first to see if the rope’s safe, and ready to knock over any of them sojers if he tries to stop us. The young gent had better come next, and you last. You’ll have to leave the rope to get back after you have seen us a bit on the way. But hold hard a minute. How long is that rope?”
“About thirty yards,” said Waller.
“Here, let me get at it,” said Bunny, and, rapidly unfastening it, he ran it through his hands till he could put the two ends together to get its measurement, and then, passing an end on either side of the upright division of the window, he lowered it down till the bight came in contact with the upright bar. “There you are;” he whispered; “twice as strong; and when we are all down I can haul on one end and bring it after us to hide it somewheres in the wood so as it shan’t give you away.”
“Capital!” whispered Waller, hurrying to the window, thrusting out his head, and listening, to find all still. “No one there,” he whispered again, “so down with you.”