They went noiselessly up to the window; the guard, as before, responding to Meinik's hiss.

Without a word, one after another entered the chamber.

The trooper had been sitting at the table, evidently anxiously expecting their arrival.
Stanley went up to the bed.
"Are you better, Harry ?" he asked, in a whisper.
"Better, but still weak." Everything had been arranged beforehand.

The litter was laid down on the ground, with the poles as far apart as possible.

Then Stanley made a sign, to the trooper, to take one end of the rug on which Harry was lying; while he took the other.