"Keep close beside me, young feller," he added, releasing his hold upon Frank's arm, the better to steady himself by aid of the hand-rail separating the sidewalk from the sunken areas before the basement shops with which this block on Rector street is lined. "You notings can do mit tem pracelets on your hands, so dere's no use in trying to run."
"I'm not running to-night," replied Frank, shortly. "Lead on, I shall follow; you need have no fear."
"Nein, you go ahead, den I keeps you in sight," said the policeman, pushing the boy before him. "You gets not pehind me ef I knows vat I do."
Frank made no reply, but plowed his way on through the snow, Officer Schneider following close in his rear.
At a word from that individual, upon reaching New Church street, he turned to the right and moved slowly along the wall of Trinity church-yard, here rising high above their heads.
To the left rose the structure of the elevated railroad, to the right the wall itself, the iron railing still surmounting it, from which hung, depending, clusters of the snow-covered vines.
Not a soul was to be seen moving about them.
The street was deserted for as great a distance as the eye could reach.
They had hardly proceeded half the length of the wall, when, proceeding apparently from the clustered vines above them, a shrill, piping sound was heard.
It was precisely such a sound as bats are sometimes heard to make just at nightfall as they go whizzing through the air.