Each of them seized a branch, and they were soon in the tree. By their united strength they succeeded in pulling the ladder up after them to the top of the tree, where they lowered it like a drawbridge, and found to their intense satisfaction that while one end rested firmly upon a stout branch, the other end extended two or three feet beyond the wall. "But when we are upon the wall, what are we to do?" Aubry inquired. "Why, when we're upon the wall we will pull the ladder after us, and go down by it." "Very good. There is only one trifling difficulty, and that is that the wall is twenty-five feet high, and the ladder only twelve." "I have provided for that," said Ascanio, unwinding the rope from his body. He then made one end fast to the trunk of the tree, and threw the other over the wall. "Ah! great man, I understand you," cried Aubry, "and I am proud and happy to break my neck with you." "Very well! what do you propose to do?" "Go across," and Aubry prepared to cross the space that lay between them and the wall. "No, no!" said Ascanio, "it is my place to go first." "Which finger is wet?" said Aubry, holding out his hand to his companion with two fingers open and two closed. "So be it," said Ascanio, touching one of the two closed fingers. "You have won," said Aubry. "Go on: but keep cool, don't get excited." "Never fear." Ascanio started out upon the flying bridge, while Jacques Aubry steadied it by sitting upon the end; the ladder was a frail support, but the daring youth was light. The student, hardly daring to breathe, thought that he wavered for an instant; but he passed quickly over the narrow space that separated him from the wall, and arrived there safe and sound. He was still in very great danger if any of the besieged should happen to espy him, but his anticipations were verified. "No one in sight," he shouted to his companion,--"no one!" "If that is so," said Aubry, "on with the dance!" And he ventured upon the narrow, trembling path, while Ascanio, putting his whole weight upon the other end of the ladder, repaid the service rendered him. As he was as light and as active as Ascanio, he was at his side in an instant. Both of them sat astride the wall and drew the ladder across; they then made fast the other end of the rope to it, and lowered it, swinging it out so that the lower end would rest on the ground at a safe distance from the wall; lastly, Ascanio, who had won the privilege of making experiments, took the rope in both hands and slid down until his feet rested upon the topmost round of the ladder; another second and he was on the ground. Jacques Aubry followed him with similar good fortune, and the two friends found themselves in the garden.