They had all the ropes and needful gear ready beneath their hand at a moment's notice." Whilst he was speaking, Cuthbert was wrapping the inanimate figure in the cloaks, and placing it gently in the hammock, as we should call it, that, suspended by strong cords from above, had assisted him in his descent to the boat.

Then at a given signal this hammock, with its human load, was slowly and steadily drawn upwards, with a cautious, silent skill that betokened use and experience; and as the eager watchers pushed out their boat a little further into the river, they saw the bulky object vanish at last within the dimly-lighted window of the tall, narrow house.

A light was flashed for a moment from the window, and then all was wrapped in darkness.
"All is well," exclaimed Cuthbert, with an accent of relief; "and I trow that not a living soul but our two selves knows whither the priest has fled.

He is safe from that savage, howling mob.

Methinks I hear their cries still! It was just so they yelled and hooted round me when Father Urban came so timely to my rescue." Mistress Susan chid Cuthbert somewhat roundly for being late for supper that night.