But he saw the
shrunken ball of twine, reduced to almost nothing, and wasted not an
instant.
Seizing the end of the rope, which lay but a short distance off, he
tied the thinner cord firmly below the first of the spaced knots, then
tugged gently in signal. Only then did he look up to see the female
form leaning out, and with frozen breath, watched the life-line
beginning to ascend.
Anne Scott held the tensing line away from the wall for as long as she
could, till the growing weight of the rope forced her to bring it
closer to her body, praying that the twine would not catch and tear
against the stone. Mary stood guard behind her, the knife clenched,
trying to understand what was happening. Anne Scott stepped back. The
rope was in her hand.
".....I tell you I don't like it," snapped Ballard just beyond. "And
what if I told you I hadn't got the key?"
"I'd blow your God damned head off."
Searching the floor, the widow found the iron hoop through which
ancient shackles had once been passed. She put the end of the rope
through and tied it fast, tested it with a severe pull, then guided
Mary quickly to the window.
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