Feeling that he was in a critical position, and that there was now no possibility of his escaping through the door, by which he had effected an entrance into the premises, he made at once for the roof. The warehouse was a five-storied one, and he did not pause until he had reached the topmost story. As he had anticipated, he discovered a trap-door, by means of which he could, in all probability, be able to reach the roof of the building. He drew some bales of goods underneath the trap, and upon these he mounted. The door was fastened on the inside by two bolts. These he endeavoured to draw back, but they were rusty, and not easily removed. He heard footsteps ascending the stairs; heard also voices. Every moment was now precious. If he could not succeed in drawing back the bolts, his capture was certain. [Sidenote: No. 5.] [Illustration: THE CHASE AFTER PEACE――MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.] He drew a jemmy from his coat-pocket, and getting a leverage from the side of the trap, he drew back one bolt; he was enabled now to raise the trap on one side. He sprang up from the bales of goods and contrived to pass through the opening. This done he closed it. He now found himself on the leads of a flat roof. The building was immensely high, as most structures of this nature usually are. As far as the eye could reach the chimneys and roofs of the houses of the city lay before him like one vast panorama. He stood on a dizzy height, from which there did not appear to be any means of escape. He began to despair, but a shuffling noise at the trap-door moved him to further action. He ran to the extreme end of the roof, and found, much to his delight, the roofs of houses, some twelve or thirteen feet below. He looked over the parapet of the warehouse at the roof beneath him. He cast a furtive glance at the trap, which he discovered was being removed. The police were on his track. Urged almost to desperation, he laid hold of one of the coping stones of the parapet; he threw his legs and body over, and then for a moment or so hung in mid air. To let go and drop on the roof of one of the houses was indeed a desperate alternative. But, desperate as it was, he felt that the attempt must be made. He had by this time gone too far to recede. He let go his hold of the coping stone, and dropped upon the slanting tiles of the house beneath. He alighted with comparative safety. Sliding down the roof, he gained the gutter which ran round the house. Then he stooped down and hid himself behind the low wall in front of the gutter. By this time the policemen and the night watchman were on the leads of the warehouse. He knew this, for he heard their voices distinctly in the night air. “He’s stepped it,” said the watchman. “He’s given us the slip after all our trouble, the audacious scoundrel.” Peace heard these observations, and remained as quiet as possible in his place of concealment.