Four men were sitting, as usual, at the front of the door.

Then he took off his uniform and put on his disguise, fastened one end of the rope securely, and slid down noiselessly to the ground.
Keeping the house between him and the guard, he started.

Making a detour, he got free of the village, and then turned to the upper end of the valley.

Half an hour's walking took him to where the force had encamped, and he soon reached the mouth of the gorge.
Here he plunged into the river.

His leg hurt him a good deal, but he waded on and, after great exertions, reached the head of the gorge.