Now, Ralph, do you stand against the wall.

I will climb upon your shoulders, and standing there can reach the bar, and so haul myself up and look out." This was soon done, and Walter seizing the bar, hauled himself up so that he could see through the loophole.
"It is as I thought," he said.

"The waters of the Somme are but a foot below the level of this window; the river is yellow and swollen, and a few hours' heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill.

Stand steady, Ralph, I am coming down again." When he reached the ground, he said: "Take off your belt, Ralph; if we buckle that and mine together, passing it round the bar, it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the window and see how best we can loosen the bar.

Constantly wet as it is, it is likely that the mortar will have softened, in which case we shall have little difficulty in working it out." The plan was at once put into execution; the belts were fastened together and Walter standing on Ralph's shoulders passed one end around the bar and buckled it to the other, thus making a loop some three feet in length; putting a foot in this he was able to stand easily at the loophole.
"It is put in with mortar at the top, Ralph, and the mortar has rotted with the wet, but at the bottom lead was poured in when the bar was set and this must be scooped out before it can be moved.