"Yes; that's the one with the blinds closed." I landed again, and Bob went with me up to the house. There was no one in sight, and nothing to prevent our doing the work we had undertaken immediately. After examining the premises, I concluded that we must release the captive maiden by means of the window. It would not be prudent to enter by the door, which was probably locked in the absence of the lady. I visited the stable on the grounds in search of a rope; but I found there a ladder, which suited me better. With the assistance of Bob, I carried this to the rear of the house, and raised it to the window. I ascended to the window, and found that the blinds were nailed on the outside, so that they could not be opened. This was some confirmation of the truth of Kate's story. I descended again, and found a hammer in the stable, with which I returned and removed the nails. "Kate!" I called, as soon as I had opened the blinds. "O, Ernest Thornton!" exclaimed she, opening the window. "I felt sure that you had deserted me. I am so glad you have come!" "We have no time to spare. Get your clothes as quick as possible; tie them up in a bundle, and throw them out the window." She did not occupy many minutes in this preparation for her departure. The bundle was made up and thrown to the ground. "How am I to get out?" asked she, glancing blankly at the ladder. "Can you go down stairs and go out by the door?" I asked, willing to spare her the descent by the ladder. [Illustration: THE RESCUE OF THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN.--Page 49.] "I cannot; the door is locked," she replied, in trembling tones, for she was violently agitated by the situation. "Then you must go down by the ladder," I added, ascending a few rounds higher. "Now give me your hands, and don't be afraid, for I can hold you so that you cannot fall." I braced myself upon the ladder, which I directed Bob to hold firmly in its place, and took her by both hands. It was a perilous feat to step from the window to the ladder, and she was so terrified that I held her whole weight; but the passage was safely effected. I held her by the hands till she reached the ground, for she was so timid I dared not trust her to her own energies. I went up again, closed the blinds, and restored the nails, hoping that the escape of the prisoner would not be discovered before the next day. The ladder was conveyed to the stable, and placed where we had found it. "Now run down to the pier and get into the boat as fast as you can," said I to Kate. "Crawl into the cuddy, and keep out of sight." "Do you think any one will catch me?" asked she, quivering with terror. "No; there is no person near to catch you," I replied, as I picked up her bundle of clothes.