Directly he saw me, he began to lower himself down the rope, and was out of sight in a minute.

I wasn't long after him, you may be sure.

In my hurry I let the rope slip through my hands so fast they were sore for a week afterwards.

But I didn't feel it then.

I should hardly have felt it if I had cut them in two, for as my feet touched the ground in the darkness I heard the stamp of a horse's hoof and the jingle of a bit--not much of a sound, but it went through my heart like a knife, along with the thought that I was a free man once more; that is, free in a manner of speaking.