"Come," said I, and (almost as quickly as it takes to set it down
here) she was beside me upon the roof of the porch, clinging to
my arm. Exactly how it was managed I am unable to say; all that
I remember being the vision of a slender foot and ankle, and an
excellently shaped leg.
Our farther descent to the ground proved much more difficult than
I had supposed, but, though I could feel her trembling, my
companion obeyed my whispered instructions, and yielded herself
implicitly to my guidance, so that we were soon standing in the
lane before the house, safe and sound except for a few rents to
our garments.
"What is it?" she whispered, seeing me searching about in the
grass.
"My staff," said I, "a faithful friend; I would not lose it."
"But they will be here in a minute--we shall be seen."
"I cannot lose my staff," said I.
"Oh, hurry! hurry!" she cried, wringing her hands. And, in a
little while, having found my staff, we turned our backs upon the
tavern and began to run up the lane, side by side. As we went,
came the slam of a door behind us--a sudden clamor of voices,
followed, a moment later, by the sharp report of a pistol, and,
in that same fraction of time, I stumbled over some unseen
obstacle, and my hat was whisked from my head.
"Are you hurt?" panted my companion.
"No," said I, "but it was a very excellent shot nevertheless!"
For, as I picked up my hat, I saw a small round hole that pierced
it through and through, midway between crown and brim.
The lane wound away between high hedges, which rendered our going
very dark, for the moon was getting low, and difficult by reason
of the deep wheel-ruts; but we hurried forward notwithstanding,
urged on by the noise of the chase. We had traversed some half
mile thus, when my ears warned me that our pursuers were gaining
upon us, and I was inwardly congratulating myself that I had
stopped to find my staff, and wondering how much execution such a
weapon might reasonably be capable of, when I found that my
companion was no longer at my side. As I paused, irresolute, her
voice reached me from the shadow of the hedge.
"This way," she panted.
"Where?" said I.
"Here!" and, as she spoke, her hand slipped into mine, and so she
led me through a small gate, into a broad, open meadow beyond.
But to attempt crossing this would be little short of madness,
for (as I pointed out) we could not go a yard without being seen.