Across the Spanish Main: A Tale of the Sea in the Days of Queen BessCollingwood, Harry
General
Across the Spanish Main: A Tale of the Sea in the Days of Queen Bess
Collingwood, Harry
Adventure stories; Boys -- Juvenile fiction; Sea stories
To be on the safe side, he at once secured the end of this second line
to a bar of the grating, in case it should slip through his fingers, and
handed the silken line to Harry, asking him to re-coil it for use again
should it be required. Then he gave three light tugs to the line at his
end, as a signal that he was ready for the next operation. Immediately
he had done so, the gentle movement of the line began again, and was
followed directly afterward by the three signal pulls, but stronger ones
this time. Up came the cord, and this time it was evident that there
was something quite heavy at the other end. Roger pulled up quickly,
and presently a dark bundle made its appearance at the window. He
grasped this carefully and handed it to Harry, who placed it upon the
cell table.
Then the cord was sent down once more. There was a longer pause this
time, and Roger was on the point of pulling up the cord, thinking that
their unknown friend had finished his part of the business, when the
three pulls came again, and Roger once more hoisted away on the line.
It was not so heavy on this occasion, and on taking it in through the
window he found that Harry's knife and a piece of paper were the only
articles that were attached.
He surmised, therefore, that nothing else was to be sent up, and read
the missive before sending down the cord again. It was short and to the
point this time.
It ran thus:--
"I am writing this in the courtyard below. I have sent up all the
necessary tools; so you need not lower the cord again to-night. It
rests with you now to cut the bars, and it must be done by midnight
to-morrow night or all will be in vain. I shall be here again then, and
will send up a rope thick enough to bear your weight. You must climb
down this, and I will be at the bottom to receive and guide you to
safety. Till to-morrow, farewell!"
When this had been read, it was placed, together with the other two
missives, in the lining of Roger's doublet.
"Now, Harry, lad," the latter whispered, "quick! let us see what there
is in this bundle, and then set to work at once. No sleep to-night, my
lad. When next we sleep we shall either be out of the clutches of the
Inquisition, or--we shall be sleeping the last long sleep of all!"
CHAPTER TWENTY.
HOW ROGER EFFECTED HIS ESCAPE.
On opening the bundle it was found to contain three files, very thin,
extremely sharp, and of wonderful temper. There were also two small
saws, with handles to them, and a bottle of very thick oil, to make the
saws and files cut faster, and also to prevent that harsh, squeaking
sound which usually arises when steel cuts against steel.
The two lads, in their eagerness, snatched the tools from the leather
bag, and, replacing the stools one above the other, mounted them and
began to work swiftly and silently.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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