Outside the wall that enclosed the Governor's garden Joshua waited, safe in the shadows. He had a coil of rope in his hand, and had hitched his dagger round so that he might easily come at it. He shivered from time to time, started at small noises, and was finely scared by a marauding black cat. Recovering from this fright he watched the cat slink off, and was moved to shake his fist at it. "What, you doxy! You'll creep up to give me a fright, will you? You may thank my need for quiet that I do not spit you on the end of my knife." The cat disappeared over the wall. "Ay, over you go, featly as you please, upon your naughty business," said Joshua bitterly. "If a man might get over that wall so easily I should be the better pleased." He set himself to listen again, but could hear only the rustle of the light wind through the trees. "Can he make it?" muttered Joshua. "I do not doubt, no, but I confess I shall be the more at ease when I see you safe beside me, master. Ha, what's this?" He listened intently, heard the sound of voices on the other side, but could not catch what was said. A door slammed, he heard the gravel scrunch under a heavy boot, a sound as of a grounded halberd, and a murmur of voices. Dismay consumed him; he was in a fret to be gone from his post, to be up and doing, at least to know more. If Sir Nicholas had broken free he could never escape this way, with men posted in the garden. And how to warn him? Joshua wrung his hands in impotent despair. "God's me, God's me, this is to ruin all! I am in no doubt now that you have broken free, master, but why so slow? Ah, why, why? You will walk into this trap. This is not Mad Nick's way to let others be before him. What mischance? Trapped, trapped!" He looked right and left. "To warn you--think, Joshua, think! I am no loose-living cat to go jumping walls." He bit his nails in a frenzy, glanced up at the wall, shook his head hopelessly. "Naught to do but to wait. But if he hath broken loose what makes he there? Will he fall upon these men in the garden? What, weaponless to pit his strength against I know not how many men with pikes? And here stand I mammering! Nor dare do else!" He stood still, listening, sweating, dreading at once the sound of a capture in the garden, and the approach of some loiterer, or, worse, a guard in the street. He stiffened suddenly, and peered into the darkness. A light step sounded, approaching fast. He began to walk away down the street, as though bound upon some errand. The footsteps were coming closer, rapidly overhauling him. He stole a hand to his dagger, and went steadily on his way. If this was a guard he was coming on his death. He was overtaken, felt a grip on his shoulder, and spun round, dagger out. A hand caught his wrist in mid-air, and held it clamped hard. "Death on thy soul, Joshua! learn to know your master!" hissed Sir Nicholas. Joshua almost fell to his knees. "Master! Safe! safe!" he whispered ecstatically.