"Yes," he said at last, "I thought so! It is lower a bit farther on. Either it is lower or the ground slopes upwards, which, as far as we are concerned, comes to the same thing; and now that all is shut up for the night, it's most unlikely that any one will be coming this way. We can go about things quietly, without fussing." "What will they be thinking about us at the Manor-house!" I exclaimed. "There'll be a hue and cry over the neighbourhood if we don't return soon!" "No fear?" said Moore reassuringly. "Servants' nerves are not so easily upset. They will just think we've missed our way, or something of that kind. Besides, I hope we shall not be so very late after all; once over the wall we can run all the way home. You can get over the ground nearly as fast as I can if you like, you know, Reggie!" I felt that he was doing his best to keep up my spirits, and, in spite of everything, I was sorry for him; so I allowed him to take the lead, and followed him silently to the spot he had pointed out, where the wall certainly looked more easy to scale. Arrived there, Moore began feeling in his pockets; out came the stout piece of whipcord and the old geological hammer which I mentioned before, with which he started operations. The wall was rough and uneven, fortunately for us; I think it was of brick--there were already small ledges, so to say, here and there, one or two of which Moore chipped away at to make them deeper, with a great air of importance. I could have danced with impatience! "We shall be here all night," I said at last, "if you are going on like that. I believe I could climb the wall as it is!" But he tapped on for a moment or two longer without replying. "_Now_," he said, "I dare say you could! There are enough footholds, but of course I will go up first. Then, as I couldn't reach to your hands, I'll let down two long loops of cords to you, which you can pull yourself up by." "No, thank you," I replied ungratefully. "I had much rather trust to clutching at the stones or the ivy." For though the ivy was cleared on this side, branches here and there came straggling over. Moore took my snub quietly. "You will see," he said, "once I am up, you'll be glad enough of the loops." See I did not; for, alas! just as the boy was close to the top, something, I know not what--a loosened brick perhaps--gave way, and with a cry he fell heavily, poor child, down on to the ground beside where I stood. At first I was too terrified to think of anything but him; for a moment or two I thought he was killed, and my relief was great when he spoke. "I'm not badly hurt, Reggie," he whispered; "my head's all right, it is only my--" and a little moan escaped him--"my ankle," he continued. "Can I have broken it?" He sat up and began to examine it. Even in the dim light I could see that he was very pale. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "if I could get my shoe off! My foot feels bursting!"