He proved keener of vision than I, for even as we thus spoke he plucked my sleeve and pointed upward.
"Then surely it will be yonder," he exclaimed, with more eagerness of voice than I had before marked in him.

"There is certainly a lightness to the atmosphere overhead, as if it came from a direct opening to the sky." It appeared true even to me, now that he had pointed out the spot.
"It must be the roof hatch uplifted.

Now if we discover a ladder leading thereto I shall accept it as proof that God guideth us this night, and feel new courage." "Our work is of God," said the _pere_ solemnly, "or I should never be here with you, and engaged upon it." "Nor have I ever doubted it, father," I made haste to answer, creeping cautiously forward across the ill-matched flooring.

"Yet you have been a luckier man than I if never you found yourself in the wrong when you believed it to be right." There was a ladder there spliced with bits of rope, as we discovered, yet proving of sufficient strength to up-bear us one at a time.

Thus we were soon out upon the great flat roof, lying prone at the edge, whither we had crept silently, peering cautiously forth upon the black river.