We did not know whether there was a sentinel on duty in the fort at night or not, but supposed there was, and, if so, he would be likely to hear the grapnel when we threw it up and it hit the stones.

We thought we could get over this difficulty by wrapping the grapnel in cotton wool.

This would deaden the sound when it struck, but would not prevent the points of the hooks from holding to the inner edge of the wall.

Everything now seemed all right, except that we had no object in view after we got over the wall.

I always like to have some reason for doing a thing, especially when it's pretty hard to do.