“Pollie, there’s someone coming along the passage.”
In the silence, there was what was obviously the sound of feet, feet which were apparently moving as if they did not wish to be heard.
CHAPTER XI.
ONE WAY IN.
I heard her fumbling with her pocket.
“I can’t find the thing; I had it just now; I can’t have dropped it.”
“Oh, Pollie! Quick! they’re at the wall!”
There was a scraping noise from behind; a muffled whispering. It sounded as if someone was endeavouring to negotiate the obstacle we had just surmounted. Still Pollie was continuing her researches.
“Where can I have put the thing?”
“Can’t you find it? Oh, Pollie!”
Someone was on the wall; had dropped softly to the ground. The sound of his alighting feet was distinctly audible. There was a pause, as if for someone to follow. It was the pause which saved us. As I waited, with my heart actually banging against my ribs, my legs giving way at the knees, expecting every second that someone would come darting at us through the darkness, just in time to save me from toppling in a heap on to the ground Pollie found the key.