Part 25 (1/2)

Bill and Jack remained for a few seconds in the dark shade caused by the tall wall of the chateau, listening attentively for any sounds of peopleabout None reached their ears, and only here and there, in the hts to be seen glea from the s

”Weseen,” said Bill

”We h, or we may be heard by souide we have for the harbour Now for it! let's start”

They set off, treading as lightly as they could on the ground with their bare feet, the soles of which were pretty well hardened For sorass to run over, and a couple of phantoms could scarcely have produced less sound

In a short time, however, they reached a fence It was soave way and came doith a crash

”Quick!” said Bill, as he was helping over Jack, who followed hi to find out what's the matter”

They did not stop, as e they had caused, but soon reaching a road which led in the direction they wished to take, they scarew on either side of the road, which, casting a dark shadow over it, would have effectually concealed the out for the any one who ht be ahead

So in the ht direction,” said Jack; ”I can't see the star, and the road seems to o on,” answered Bill ”Perhaps we shall catch sight of the star again before long, and westill”

They went on and on

”There it is at last,” cried Jack

The trees which lined the road wereindeed mere pollards, and allowed the bark; then another and another Could the brutes be barking at thes near, and the inhabitants s bark

”Never s are tied up, and if we keep h the village or hamlet

They were still, they knew, some distance froht twinkling from a , probably of some sick-chaone to bed, still soive the alarht; it was better, however, than keeping to the left side, which ht lead therassy downs, and the regular road they had been pursuing turned sharp off to the left

”We had better keep straight on,” said Bill; ”we shall be more exposed on the open downs; but then it isn't likely that anybody will be there to see us, so that won't matter”

Jack, as usual, was ready to do whatever Bill proposed They got quickly over the grass, which was cropped short by sheep feeding on it, and they could e to see somewhat better than they had done on the road Presently Jack, whose eyesight was even keener than Bill's, having been well practised at night fro, ”Hold back; it seee of the downs”

They crept cautiously forward In another instant they would have leapt down a cliff soht, and been dashed to pieces

They turned away fro at the fearful risk they had run, and kept along on souided the buildings, but they were low and scattered; evidently only in the outskirts of the village

”We reater reason that we should be cautious,” observed Bill ”This road, I suspect, leads right down to the part of the harbour ant to reach”

They ran on, their hope of escape increasing

Suddenly they heard the voice of a oes there?”