a thief in the night-第28部分

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th　the　walls　and　doors　upon　our　left；　the　banisters　on　our　right；　and　the　baize　door　at　the　end。　　But　if　the　great　Guillemard　had　not　stopped　to　live　up　to　his　sporting　reputation；　he　would　assuredly　have　laid　one　or　other　of　us　by　the　heels；　and　either　would　have　been　tantamount　to　both。　　As　I　gave　Raffles　a　headlong　lead　to　the　baize　door；　I　glanced　down　the　great　well　of　stairs；　and　up　came　the　daft　yells　of　these　sporting　oafs：

〃Gone　away　…　gone　away！〃

〃Yoick　…　yoick　…　yoick？〃

〃Yon…der　they　go？〃

And　gone　I　had；　through　the　baize　door　to　the　back　landing；　with　Raffles　at　my　heels。　　I　held　the　swing　door　for　him；　and　heard　him　bang　it　in　the　face　of　the　spluttering　and　blustering　master　of　the　house。　　Other　feet　were　already　in　the　lower　flight　of　the　backstairs；　but　the　upper　flight　was　the　one　for　me；　and　in　an　instant　we　were　racing　along　the　upper　corridor　with　the　chuckle…headed　pack　at　our　heels。　　Here　it　was　all。　but　dark　…　they　were　the　servants'　bedrooms　that　we　were　passing　now　…　but　I　knew　what　I　was　doing。　　Round　the　last　corner　to　the　right；　through　the　first　door　to　the　left　and　we　were　in　the　room　underneath　the　tower。　In　our　time　a　long　stepladder　had　led　to　the　tower　itself。　　I　rushed　in　the　dark　to　the　old　corner。　　Thank　God；　the　ladder　was　there　still！　　It　leaped　under　us　as　we　rushed　aloft　like　one　quadruped。　　The　breakneck　trap…door　was　still　protected　by　a　curved　brass　stanchion；　this　I　grasped　with　one　hand；　and　then　Raffles　with　the　other　as　I　felt　my　feet　firm　upon　the　tower　floor。　　In　he　sprawled　after　me；　and　down　went　the　trap…door　with　a　bang　upon　the　leading　hound。

I　hoped　to　feel　his　dead…weight　shake　the　house；　as　he　crashed　upon　the　floor　below；　but　the　fellow　must　have　ducked；　and　no　crash　came。　Meanwhile　not　a　word　passed　between　Raffles　and　me；　he　had　followed　me；　as　I　had　led　him；　without　waste　of　breath　upon　a　single　syllable。　But　the　merry　lot　below　were　still　yelling　and　bellowing　in　full　cry。

〃Gone　to　ground？　　screamed　one。

〃Where's　the　terrier？〃　screeched　another。

But　their　host　of　the　mighty　girth　…　a　man　like　a　soda…water　bottle；　from　my　one　glimpse　of　him　on　his　feet　…　seemed　sobered　rather　than　stunned　by　the　crack　on　that　head　of　his。　　We　heard　his　fine　voice　no　more；　but　we　could　feel　him　straining　every　thew　against　the　trap…door　upon　which　Raffles　and　I　stood　side　by　side。　　At　least　I　thought　Raffles　was　standing；　until　he　asked　me　to　strike　a　light；　when　I　found　him　on　his　knees　instead　of　on　his　feet；　busy　screwing　down　the　trap…door　with　his　gimlet。　　He　carried　three　or　four　gimlets　for　wedging　doors；　and　he　drove　them　all。　in　to　the　handle；　while　I　pulled　at　the　stanchion　and　pushed　with　my　feet。

But　the　upward　pressure　ceased　before　our　efforts。　　We　heard　the　ladder　creak　again　under　a　ponderous　and　slow　descent；　and　we　stood　upright　in　the　dim　flicker　of　a　candle…end　that　I　had　lit　and　left　burning　on　the　floor。　　Raffles　glanced　at　the　four　small　windows　in　turn　and　then　at　me。　　〃Is　there　any　way　out　at　all。？〃　he　whispered；　as　no　other　being　would　or　could　have　whispered　to　the　man　who　had　led　him　into　such　a　trap。　　〃We've　no　rope…ladder；　you　know。〃

〃Thanks　to　me；〃　I　groaned。　　〃The　whole　thing's　my　fault？　　　　〃Nonsense；　Bunny；　there　was　no　other　way　to　run。　　But　what　about　these　windows？〃

His　magnanimity　took　me　by　the　throat；　without　a　word　I　led　him　to　the　one　window　looking　inward　upon　sloping　slates　and　level　leads。　Often　as　a　boy　I　had　clambered　over　them；　for　the　fearful　fun　of　risking　life　and　limb；　or　the　fascination　of　peering　through　the　great　square　skylight；　down　the　well　of　the　house　into　the　hall　below。　　There　were；　however；　several　smaller　skylights；　for　the　benefit　of　the　top　floor；　through　any　one　of　which　I　thought　we　might　have　made　a　dash。　　But　at　a　glance　I　saw　we　were　too　late：　one　of　these　skylights　became　a　brilliant　square　before　our　eyes；　opened；　and　admitted　a　flushed　face　on　flaming　shoulders。

〃I'll　give　them　a　fright！〃　　said　Raffles　through　his　teeth。　　In　an　instant　he　had　plucked　out　his　revolver；　smashed　the　window　with　its　butt；　and　the　slates　with　a　bullet　not　a　yard　from　the　protruding　head。　　And　that；　I　believe；　was　the　only　shot　that　Raffles　ever　fired　in　his　whole　career　as　a　midnight　marauder。

〃You　didn't　hit　him？〃　I　gasped；　as　the　head　disappeared；　and　we　heard　a　crash　in　the　corridor。

〃Of　course　I　didn't；　Bunny；〃　he　replied；　backing　into　the　tower；　〃but　no　one　will　believe　I　didn't　mean　to；　and　it'll　stick　on　ten　years　if　we're　caught。　　That's　nothing；　if　it　gives　us　an　extra　five　minutes　now；　while　they　hold　a　council　of　war。　　Is　that　a　working　flag…staff　overhead？〃

〃It　used　to　be。〃

〃Then　there'll　be　halliards。〃

〃They　were　as　thin　as　clothes…lines。〃。

〃And　they're　sure　to　be　rotten；　and　we　should　be　seen　cutting　them　down。　　No；　Bunny；　that　won't　do。　　Wait　a　bit。　　Is　there　a　lightning　conductor？〃

〃There　was。〃

I　opened　one　of　the　side　windows　and　reached　out　as　far　as　I　could。　xyz　〃You'll　be　seen　from　that　skylight？　　cried　Raffles　in　a　warning　undertone。

〃No；　I　won't。　　I　can't　see　it　myself。　　But　here's　the　lightning…conductor；　where　it　always　was。〃

〃How　thick；〃　asked　Raffles；　as　I　drew　in　and　rejoined　him。

〃Rather　thicker　than　a　lead…pencil。〃

〃They　sometimes　bear　you；〃　said　Raffles；　slipping　on　a　pair　of　white　kid　gloves；　and　stuffing　his　handkerchief　into　the　palm　of　one。　〃The　difficulty　is　to　keep　a　grip；　but　I've　been　up　and　down　them　before　to…night。　　And　it's　our　only　chance。　　I'll　go　first；　Bunny：　you　watch　me；　and　do　exactly　as　I　do　if　I　get　down　all。　right。〃

〃But　if　you　don't？〃

〃If　I　don't；〃　whispered　Raffles；　as　he　wormed　through　the　window　feet　foremost；　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　face　the　music　where　you　are；　and　I　shall　have　the　best　of　it　down　in　Acheron！〃

And　he　slid　out　of　reach　without　another　word；　leaving　me　to　shudder　alike　at　his　levity　and　his　peril；　nor　could　I　follow　him　very　far　by　the　wan　light　of　the　April　stars；　but　I　saw　his　forearms　resting　a　moment　in　the　spout　that　ran　around　the　tower；　between　bricks　and　slates；　on　the　level　of　the　floor；　and　I　had　another　dim　glimpse　of　him　lower　still；　on　the　eaves　over　the　very　room　that　we　had　ransacked。　　Thence　the　conductor　ran　straight　to　earth　in　an　angle　of　the　facade。　　And　since　it　had　borne　him　thus　far　without　mishap；　I　felt　that　Raffles　was　as　good　as　down。　　But　I　had　neither　his　muscles　nor　his　nerves；　and　my　head　swam　as　I　mounted　to　the　window　and　prepared　to　creep　out　backward　in　my　turn。

So　it　was　that　at　the　last　moment　I　had　my　first　unobstructed　view　of　the　little　old　tower　of　other　days。　　Raffles　was　out　of　the　way；　the　bit　of　candle　was　still　burning　on　the　floor；　and　in　its　dim　light　the　familiar　haunt　was　cruelly　like　itself　of　innocent　memory。　A　lesser　ladder　still　ascended　to　a　tinier　trap…door　in　the　apex　of　the　tower；　the　fixed　seats　looked　to　me　to　be　wearing　their　old；　old　coat　of　grained　varnish；　nay　the　varnish　had　its　ancient　smell；　and　the　very　vanes　outside　creaked　their　message　to　my　ears。　　I　remembered　whole　days　that　I　had　spent；　whole　books　that　I　had　read；　here　in　this　favorite　fastness　of　my　boyhood。　　The　dirty　little　place；　with　the　dormer　window　in　each　of　its　four　sloping　sides；　became　a　gallery　hung　with　poignant　pictures　of　the　past。　　And　here　was　I　leaving　it　with　my　life　in　my　hands　and　my　pockets　full　of　stolen　jewels！　　A　superstition　seized　me。　　Suppose　the　conductor　came　down　with　me　。　。　。　　suppose　I　slipped　。　。　　。　and　was　picked　up　dead；　with　the　proceeds　of　my　shameful　crime　upon　me；　under　the　very　windows

　　　　　　。　。　。　where　the　sun　　　　　　　Came　peeping　in　at　dawn　。　。　。

I　hardly　remember　what　I　did　or　left　undone。　　I　only　know　that　nothing　broke；　that　somehow　I　kept　my　hold；　and　that　in　the　end　the　wire　ran　red…hot　through　my　palms　so　that　both　were　torn　and　bleeding　when　I　stood　panting　beside　Raffles　in　the　flower…beds。　There　was　no　time　for　thinking　then。　　Already　there　was　a　fresh　commotion　in…doors；　the　tidal　wave　of　excitement　which　had　swept　all。　before　it　to　the　upper　regions　was　subsiding　in　as　swift　a　rush　downstairs；　and　I　raced　after　Raffles　along　the　edge　of　the　drive　without　daring　to　look　behind。

We　came　out　by　the　opposite　gate　to　that　by　which　we　had　stolen　in。　Sharp　to　the　right　ran　the　private　lane　behind　the　stables　and　sharp　to　the　right　dashed　Raffles；　instead　of　straight　along　the　open　road。　　It　was　not　the　course　I　should　have　chosen；　but　I　followed　Raffles　without　a　murmur；　only　too　thankful　that　he　had　assumed　the　lead　at　last。　　Already　the　stables　were　lit　up　like　a　chandelier；　there　was　a　staccato　rattle　of　horseshoes　in　the　stable　yard；　and　the　great　gates　were　opening　as　we　skimmed　past　in　the　nick　of　time。　　In　another　minute　we　were　skulking　in　the　shadow　of　the　kitchen…garden　wall　while　the　high…road　rang　with　the　dying　tattoo　of　galloping　hoofs。

〃That's　for　the　police；〃　said　Raffles；　waiting　for　me。　　〃But　the　fun's　only　beginning　in　the　stables。　　Hear　the　uproar；　and　see　the　lights！　　In　another　minute　they'll　be　turning　out　the　hunters　for　the　last　run　of　the　season

〃We　mustn't　give　them　one；　Raffles？〃　　　　〃Of　course　we　mustn't；　but　that　means　stopping　where　we　are。〃

〃We　can't　do　that？〃　　　　〃If　they're　wise　they'll　send　a　man　to　every　railway　station　within　ten　miles　and　draw　every　cover　inside　the　radius。　　I　can　only　think　of　one　that's　not　likely　to　occur　to　them。〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃The　other　side　of　this　wall。　　How　big　is　the　garden；　Bunny？〃

〃Six　or　seven　acres。〃

〃Well；　you　must　take　me　to　another　of　your　old　haunts；　where　we　can　lie　low　till　morning。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Sufficient　for　the　night；　Bunny！　　The　first　thing　is　to　find　a　burrow。　　What　are　those　trees　at　the　end　of　this　lane？〃

〃St。　Leonard's　Forest。〃

〃Magnificent！　　They'll　scour　every　inch　of　that　before　they　come　back　to　their　own　garden。　　Come；　Bunny；　give　me　a　leg　up；　and　I'll　pull　you　after　me　in　two　ticks？　　　　There　was　indeed　nothing　better　to　be　done；　and；　much　as　I　loathed　and　dreaded　entering　the　place　again；　I　had　already　thought　of　a　second　sanctuary　of　old　days；　which　might　as　well　be　put　to　the　base　uses　of　this　disgraceful　night。　　In　a　far　corner　of　the　garden；　over　a　hundred　yards　from　the　house；　a　little　orna