Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/226

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH sthraight ahead, sor," he said at last slowly, "an' maybe there's plenty of Rebs holdin' in it; but there's no signs of thim from here. They're keepin' up some shootin' out in front, an' I thought quite a squad just wint across that open space yonder toward the nigger cabins. They was all bunched together, but there was some movement there to the roight."

"If there were any guards in the grape arbor they would have heard us lift the window," I returned decisively, "and taken a shot this way. Draw in your head until I see if it is possible to reach the roof from here."

"Why not thry a dhrop to the ground, sor?"

"Because after we got there we would be no better off. Those fellows are preparing to come up through that back passage, and our work is to head them off. Help me to lower this upper sash."

I climbed up, pushing my body out as far as possible, while O'Brien steadied me by grasping my feet. My hands groped about for the edge of the roof, and my fingers found firm hold upon the lead gutter. My recollection of the roof was that it had a rather sharp pitch, sufficiently so to make scaling it, even if I could draw my body up, an impossibility. But this gutter was built in solid, and would safely sustain my weight. I swung out, testing it cautiously, expecting every instant to be fired at from below. Nothing happened, however, and I determined to risk the venture.

"Let loose of my feet, O'Brien; I am going to try for the next room."

He was too surprised for protest, but released bis grip, [ 212 ]