Sowerby and two more men will remain to watch
the lane. The river front is well guarded. We will post a man here
at this gate and one at the other. Dunbar and I will climb this one
and rush straight for that balcony which we must hope to reach by
climbing up the ivy. Ah! here comes Inspector Dunbar ... and
_someone_ is with him!"
Dunbar appeared at the double around the corner of the lane which
led riverward, and beside him ran a girl who presented a bizarre
figure beside the gaunt Scotsman and a figure wildly out of place
in that English riverside setting.
It was Miska, arrayed in her flimsy _harem_ dress!
"Miska!" cried Stuart, and sprang towards her, sweeping her hungrily
into his arms--forgetful of, indifferent to, the presence of Max and
Dunbar.
"Ah!" sighed the Frenchman--"yes, she is beautiful!"
Trembling wildly, Miska clung to Stuart and began to speak, her
English more broken than ever, because of her emotion.
"Listen--quick!" she panted. "Oh! do not hold me so tight. I have the
house-keys--look!"--she held up a bunch of keys--"but not the keys of
the gates. Two men have gone to the end of the tunnel where the boat
is hid beside the river. Someone--he better climb this gate and by the
ivy he can reach the room in which Fo-Hi is! I come down so. You do
not see me because the moon goes out and I run to the side-door. It
is open. _You_ come with me!"
She clung to Stuart, looking up into his eyes.
"Yes, yes, Miska!"
"Oh! Chunda Lal"--she choked down a sob.
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