It is better to be shot as we go out, than be roasted here." Rapidly they tore away the barrier of sacks, and Rupert put his thumb on the latch.

He withdrew it with a sharp exclamation.
"They have jammed the latch, Hugh.

That was what that fellow we heard was doing." The smoke was now getting very dense, and they could with difficulty breathe.

Rupert put his head out of the window.
"There is a little window just over the wheel," he said.

"If we could get down to the next floor we might slip out of that and get in the wheel without being noticed.
"Look about, Hugh," he exclaimed suddenly; "there must be a trapdoor somewhere for lowering the sacks.