"Nothing," said Raffles, as though there could be no two opinions on the point. "What did we see to swear to between a sweater and a pocket-handkerchief? Only something white, and we were looking out, and it's far darker in here than out there on the main stream. But it'll soon be getting light, and we really may be seen unless we land our big fish first." And without more ado he dragged the lifeless Levy ashore by the heels, while I alternately grasped the landing-stage to steady the boat, and did my best to protect the limp members and the leaden head from actual injury. All my efforts could not avert a few hard knocks, however, and these were sustained with such a horrifying insensibility of body and limb, that my worst suspicions were renewed before I crawled ashore myself, and remained kneeling over the prostrate form. "Are you certain, Raffles?" I began, and could not finish the awful question. "That he's alive?" said Raffles. "Rather, Bunny, and he'll be kicking below the belt again in a few more hours!" "A few more _hours_, A.J.?" "I give him four or five." "Then it's concussion of the brain!" "It's the brain all right," said Raffles. "But for 'concussion' I should say 'coma,' if I were you." "What have I done!" I murmured, shaking my head over the poor old brute. "You?" said Raffles. "Less than you think, perhaps!" "But the man's never moved a muscle." "Oh, yes, he has, Bunny!" "When?" "I'll tell you at the next stage," said Raffles. "Up with his heels and come this way." And we trailed across a lawn so woefully neglected that the big body sagging between us, though it cleared the ground by several inches, swept the dew from the rank growth until we got it propped up on some steps at the base of the tower, and Raffles ran up to open the door. More steps there were within, stone steps allowing so little room for one foot and so much for the other as to suggest a spiral staircase from top to bottom of the tower. So it turned out to be; but there were landings communicating with the house, and on the first of them we laid our man and sat down to rest. "How I love a silent, uncomplaining, stone staircase!" sighed the now quite invisible Raffles. "So of course we find one thrown away upon an empty house. Are you there, Bunny?" "Rather! Are you quite sure nobody else is here?" I asked, for he was scarcely troubling to lower his voice. "Only Levy, and he won't count till all hours." "I'm waiting to hear how you know." "Have a Sullivan, first." "Are we as safe as all that?"