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seemed to love to swing and climb on thembut we were never there by
ourselves。
We should have to piece it out from our bedding； rugs； and
garments； and moreover； we should have to do it after we were shut in for
the night； for every day the place was cleaned to perfection by two of our
guardians。
We had no shears； no knives； but Terry was resourceful。 〃These
Jennies have glass and china； you see。 We'll break a glass from the
bathroom and use that。 ‘Love will find out a way；'〃 he hummed。
〃When we're all out of the window； we'll stand three…man high and cut the
rope as far up as we can reach； so as to have more for the wall。 I know
just where I saw that bit of path below； and there's a big tree there； too； or
a vine or somethingI saw the leaves。〃
It seemed a crazy risk to take； but this was； in a way； Terry's
expedition； and we were all tired of our imprisonment。
So we waited for full moon； retired early； and spent an anxious
hour or two in the unskilled manufacture of man…strong ropes。
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To retire into the depths of the closet； muffle a glass in thick
cloth； and break it without noise was not difficult； and broken glass will
cut； though not as deftly as a pair of scissors。
The broad moonlight streamed in through four of our windows
we had not dared leave our lights on too longand we worked hard and
fast at our task of destruction。
Hangings； rugs； robes； towels； as well as bed…furnitureeven the
mattress coverswe left not one stitch upon another； as Jeff put it。
Then at an end window； as less liable to observation； we
fastened one end of our cable； strongly； to the firm…set hinge of the inner
blind； and dropped our coiled bundle of rope softly over。
〃This part's easy enoughI'll come last； so as to cut the rope；〃
said Terry。
So I slipped down first； and stood； well braced against the wall；
then Jeff on my shoulders； then Terry； who shook us a little as he sawed
through the cord above his head。 Then I slowly dropped to the ground；
Jeff following； and at last we all three stood safe in the garden； with most
of our rope with us。
〃Good…bye； Grandma！〃 whispered Terry； under his breath； and
we crept softly toward the wall； taking advantage of the shadow of every
bush and tree。 He had been foresighted enough to mark the very spot；
only a scratch of stone on stone； but we could see to read in that light。
For anchorage there was a tough； fair…sized shrub close to the wall。
〃Now I'll climb up on you two again and go over first；〃 said
Terry。 〃That'll hold the rope firm till you both get up on top。 Then I'll go
down to the end。 If I can get off safely； you can see me and followor；
say； I'll twitch it three times。 If I find there's absolutely no footingwhy
I'll climb up again； that's all。 I don't think they'll kill us。〃
From the top he reconnoitered carefully； waved his hand； and
whispered； 〃OK；〃 then slipped over。 Jeff climbed up and I followed； and
we rather shivered to see how far down that swaying； wavering figure
dropped； hand under hand； till it disappeared in a mass of foliage far
below。
Then there were three quick pulls； and Jeff and I； not without a
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joyous sense of recovered freedom； successfully followed our leader。
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CHAPTER 4
Our Venture
We were standing on a narrow； irregular； all too slanting little ledge；
and should doubtless have ignominiously slipped off and broken our rash
necks but for the vine。 This was a thick…leaved； wide…spreading thing； a
little like Amphelopsis。
〃It's not QUITE vertical here； you see；〃 said Terry； full of pride
and enthusiasm。 〃This thing never would hold our direct weight； but I
think if we sort of slide down on it； one at a time； sticking in with hands
and feet； we'll reach that next ledge alive。〃
〃As we do not wish to get up our rope againand can't
comfortably stay hereI approve；〃 said Jeff solemnly。
Terry slid down firstsaid he'd show us how a Christian meets
his death。 Luck was with us。 We had put on the thickest of those
intermediate suits； leaving our tunics behind； and made this scramble quite
successfully； though I got a pretty heavy fall just at the end； and was only
kept on the second ledge by main force。 The next stage was down a sort
of 〃chimney〃a long irregular fissure； and so with scratches many and
painful and bruises not a few； we finally reached the stream。
It was darker there； but we felt it highly necessary to put as
much distance as possible behind us； so we waded； jumped； and
clambered down that rocky riverbed； in the flickering black and white
moonlight and leaf shadow； till growing daylight forced a halt。
We found a friendly nut…tree； those large； satisfying； soft…
shelled nuts we already knew so well； and filled our pockets。
I see that I have not remarked that these women had pockets in
surprising number and variety。 They were in all their garments； and the
middle one in particular was shingled with them。 So we stocked up with
nuts till we bulged like Prussian privates in marching order； drank all we
could hold； and retired for the day。
It was not a very comfortable place； not at all easy to get at； just
a sort of crevice high up along the steep bank； but it was well veiled with
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foliage and dry。 After our exhaustive three… or four… hour scramble and
the good breakfast food； we all lay down along that crackheads and tails；
as it wereand slept till the afternoon sun almost toasted our faces。
Terry poked a tentative foot against my head。
〃How are you； Van？ Alive yet？〃
〃Very much so；〃 I told him。 And Jeff was equally cheerful。
We had room to stretch； if not to turn around； but we could very
carefully roll over； one at a time； behind the sheltering foliage。
It was no use to leave there by daylight。 We could not see
much of the country； but enough to know that we were now at the
beginning of the cultivated area； and no doubt there would be an alarm
sent out far and wide。
Terry chuckled softly to himself； lying there on that hot narrow
little rim of rock。 He dilated on the discomfiture of our guards and tutors；
making many discourteous remarks。
I reminded him that we had still a long way to go before getting
to the place where we'd left our machine； and no probability of finding it
there； but he only kicked me； mildly； for a croaker。
〃If you can't boost； don't knock；〃 he protested。 〃I never said
'twould be a picnic。 But I'd run away in the Antarctic ice fields rather
than be a prisoner。〃
We soon dozed off again。
The long rest and penetrating dry heat were good for us； and that
night we covered a considerable distance； keeping always in the rough
forested belt of land which we knew bordered the whole country。
Sometimes we were near the outer edge； and caught sudden glimpses of
the tremendous depths beyond。
〃This piece of geography stands up like a basalt column；〃 Jeff
said。 〃Nice time we'll have getting down if they have confiscated our
machine！〃 For which suggestion he received summary chastisement。
What we could see inland was peaceable enough； but only
moonlit glimpses； by daylight we lay very close。 As