saint george for england-第44节
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ll take every precaution and come well armed。 It may be； too； that they will not come at all； but that they intend us to die of starvation； or perchance to be drowned by the floods； which it is easy to see often make their way in here。 No； our escape； if escape there be； must be made through that loophole above。 Were that bar removed； methinks it is wide enough for us to squeeze through。 Doubtless such a hazard has not occurred to them； seeing that it is nigh twelve feet above the floor； and that a single man could by no possibility reach it； but with two of us there is no difficulty。 Now； Ralph； do you stand against the wall。 I will climb upon your shoulders； and standing there can reach the bar； and so haul myself up and look out。〃
This was soon done； and Walter seizing the bar； hauled himself up so that he could see through the loophole。
〃It is as I thought；〃 he said。 〃The waters of the Somme are but a foot below the level of this window； the river is yellow and swollen； and a few hours' heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill。 Stand steady； Ralph； I am coming down again。〃
When he reached the ground； he said：
〃Take off your belt； Ralph； if we buckle that and mine together； passing it round the bar； it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the window and see how best we can loosen the bar。 Constantly wet as it is； it is likely that the mortar will have softened； in which case we shall have little difficulty in working it out。〃
The plan was at once put into execution； the belts were fastened together and Walter standing on Ralph's shoulders passed one end around the bar and buckled it to the other； thus making a loop some three feet in length； putting a foot in this he was able to stand easily at the loophole。
〃It is put in with mortar at the top； Ralph； and the mortar has rotted with the wet； but at the bottom lead was poured in when the bar was set and this must be scooped out before it can be moved。 Fortunately the knight gave no orders to his men to remove our daggers when we were thrust in here； and these will speedily dig out the lead； but I must come down first； for the strap prevents my working at the foot of the bar。 We must tear off a strip of our clothing and make a shift to fasten the strap half…way up the bar so as not to slip down with our weight。〃
In order to accomplish this Walter had to stand upon Ralph's head to gain additional height。 He presently； after several attempts； succeeded in fixing the strap firmly against the bar half…way up； and then placing one knee in the loop and putting an arm through the bar to steady himself； he set to work at the lead。 The sharp point of the dagger quickly cut out that near the surface； but farther down the hole narrowed and the task was much more difficult。 Several times Ralph relieved him at the work； but at last it was accomplished； and the bar was found to move slightly when they shook it。 There now remained only to loosen the cement above； and this was a comparatively easy task； it crumbled quickly before the points of their daggers； and the bar was soon free to move。
〃Now；〃 Walter said； 〃we have to find out whether the bar was first put in from below or from above； one hole or the other must be a good deal deeper than the iron； so that it was either shoved up or pushed down until the other end could get under or over the other hole。 I should think most likely the hole is below； as if they held up the bar against the top； when the lead was poured in it would fill up the space； so we will first of all try to lift it。 I must stand on your head again to enable me to be high enough to try this。〃
〃My head is strong enough； I warrant；〃 Ralph replied； 〃but I will fold up my jerkin； and put on it； for in truth you hurt me somewhat when you were tying the strap to the bar。〃
All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the slightest； and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and lifted while the space was filled with lead。 〃It is best so；〃 he said； 〃we should have to cut away the stone either above or below； and can work much better below。 Now I will put my knee in the strap again and set to work。 The stone seems greatly softened by the wet； and will yield to our daggers readily enough。 It is already getting dark； and as soon as we have finished we can start。
As Walter had discovered； the stone was rotten with the action of the weather； and although as they got deeper it became much harder； it yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers； and in two hours Ralph； who at the moment happened to be engaged； announced to Walter that his dagger had found its way under the bottom of the bar。 The groove was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out； but another hour's work was necessary； somewhat further to enlarge the upper hole； so as to allow the bar to have sufficient play。 Fortunately it was only inserted about an inch and a half in the stone； and the amount to be cut away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large。 Then at last all was ready for their flight。
CHAPTER XVII： THE CAPTURE OF CALAIS
When the bar was once ready for removal the captives delayed not a minute； for although it was now so late that there was little chance of a visit being paid them； it was just possible that such might be the case； and that it might occur to the knight that it would be safer to separate them。
〃Now； Ralph； do you go first； since I am lighter and can climb up by means of the strap； which you can hold from above； push the bar out and lay it down quietly on the thickness of the wall。 A splash might attract the attention of the sentries； though I doubt whether it would； for the wind is high and the rain falling fast。 Unbuckle the strap before you move the bar； as otherwise it might fall and I should have difficulty in handing it to you again。 Now； I am steady against the wall。〃
Ralph seized the bar and with a great effort pushed the bottom from him。 It moved through the groove without much difficulty； but it needed a great wrench to free the upper end。 However； it was done； and laying it quietly down he pulled himself up and thrust himself through the loophole。 It was a desperate struggle to get through； for it was only just wide enough for his head to pass； and he was so squarely built that his body with difficulty followed。 The wall was four feet wide； and as the loophole widened considerably without； there was； when he had once passed through from the inside； space enough for him to kneel down and lower one end of the strap to Walter。 The latter speedily climbed up； and getting through the slit with much less trouble than Ralph had experienced … for although in height and width of shoulder he was his equal； he was less in depth than his follower … he joined him in the opening； Ralph sitting with his feet in the water in order to make room for him。
The dungeon was upon the western side of the castle； and consequently the stream would be with them in making for shore。 It was pitch dark； but they knew that the distance they would have to swim could not exceed forty or fifty yards。
〃Keep along close by the wall； Ralph； if we once get out in the stream we might lose our way； we will skirt the wall until it ends； then there is a cut； for as you saw when we entered； the moat runs right across this neck。 If we keep a bit farther down and then land； we shall be fairly beyond the outworks。〃
Ralph slipped down into the water； and followed by Walter swam along at the foot of the wall。 They had already been deprived of their armour； but had luckily contrived to retain their daggers in their belts； which they had again girdled on before entering the water。 The stream hurried them rapidly along； and they had only to keep themselves afloat。 They were soon at the corner of the castle。 A few strokes farther and they again felt the wall which lined the moat。 The stream still swept them along； they felt the masonry come to an end； and bushes and shrubs lined the bank。 They were beyond the outer defences of the castle。 Still a little farther they proceeded down the stream in order to prevent the possibility of any noise they might make in scrambling up being heard by the sentinels on the outer postern。 Then when they felt quite safe they grasped the bushes； and speedily climbed the bank。 Looking back at the castle they saw lights still burning there。 Short as was the time they had been in the water they were both chilled to the bone； for it was the month of February； and the water was bitterly cold。
〃It cannot be more than nine o'clock now；〃 Walter said； 〃for it is not more than four hours since darkness fell。 They are not likely to visit the dungeon before eight or nine tomorrow； so we can rely upon twelve hours' start； and if we make the best of our time we ought to be far on travelling on a night like this through a strange country。 I would that the stars were shining。 However； the direction of the wind and rain will be a guide to us； and we shall soon strike the road we traveled yesterday； and can follow that till morning。〃
They were not long before they found the track； and then started at a brisk pace along it。 All night they struggled on through wind and rain until the fir
