"Ah! there they come; I thought so." And as he spoke they heard the sound of men scrambling up the ladder.
They ran to the window-place and looked out, but there seemed to be no one below, and it was not more than twelve feet from the ground.

Peter helped Castell through it, then, holding his sound arm with both his own, lowered him as far as he could, and let go.

He dropped on to his feet, fell to the ground, then rose again, unhurt.

Peter was about to follow him when he heard the chair tumble over again, and, looking round, saw the trap-door open, to fall back with a crash.

They had cut the cord! The figure of a man holding a knife appeared in the faint light, followed by the head of another man.