They were very hungry and they took the bone at once. They let Mike pat them. This boy seemed to be a friend of Jacks so they were not going to bark at him. They lay on the ground, growling and worrying at the big bone.
Come on, whispered Jack. Mike went with him to the bottom of the tower. A faint light shone at the top. Mike picked up a smooth round stone and took aim at the tower to warn Prince Paul they were there. The windows of the tower were open. Mike hoped to goodness he wouldnt smash the glass and waken everyone! However, he was good at throwing, so the stone went through the open window and landed neatly inside.
At once Prince Paul appeared at the window. Hallo, he said, in a low voice. Im ready.
Jack got hold of the stone to which the piece of string was firmly tied. It had a hole through the middle and the string was knotted through it. Jack took aim at the window.
The stone flew up in the air, carrying the length of thin string with it. It missed the window and fell down again. Jack picked it up. Once more he aimed - and this time the stone went right through the open window, just missing Paul, and landed on the floor.
Paul picked up the stone. He pulled at the string and it came up to the window pulling the strong twine behind it. Then Paul pulled at the twine, and the rope-ladder began to unravel itself from Jacks hands and slip silently up the wall of the tower.
There goes the ladder! whispered Jack in excitement. Pauls got it! Hes only got to fix it firmly to something and escape down it!
Mike pulled on it gently. It felt tight to his hand. Pauls fixed it! he whispered. It feels quite firm. I hope he gets a move on and comes down at once!
But Paul didnt come! The boys waited and waited, but nobody came down the rope-ladder. Whatever could have happened?
Mike is Caught
Mike peered up. The moon shone brightly on the tower of the Old House, and the rope-ladder hung against the wall, quite straight and firm.
Its funny, said Mike. Do you suppose he doesnt dare to risk himself down our ladder?
Cant imagine what hes doing, said Jack. We cant stand here all night. I do wish hed hurry.
The two dogs came running up. They had finished their bone. They nosed round the two boys, licking their hands. Jack patted them. Dont you bark at Paul when he comes down the ladder, he warned them. Hes a friend of ours - so dont you dare to make a sound. Do you hear, Tinker? Do you hear, Don?
The dogs wagged their tails. They did not understand what Jack was saying, but they liked to hear him talking to them. Jack looked impatiently up the ladder once more. He shook it - but still nothing happened.
Ill climb up softly and see whats up, said Mike at last. He may be waiting for one of us to tell him how to climb down.
All right, said Jack. Ill hold the ladder as firmly as I can. Good luck!
Mike began to climb the rope-ladder. He went up the side of the tower in the bright moonlight like a little black shadow. The girls at Peep-Hole could see him quite well through the field-glasses. They were puzzled to think why Mike should go up the ladder instead of Prince Paul coming down.
Mike went up and up. At last he came to the window where Prince Paul had taken in the top of the ladder. He put his head cautiously above the window-sill - caught sight of a little boy sitting on a couch at the far side of the room, looking very scared - and then a voice said, Got him! and Mr. Diaz leaned out of the window and took firm hold of poor Mike!
Mike
did not dare to struggle, for he was afraid of falling down the ladder. He had to let himself be hauled into the tower room. Mr. Diaz stood him on the floor and then quickly pulled up the rope-ladder, jerking it roughly from Jacks hands below.
And now we have two prisoners, said the soft sleepy voice of Luiz, and Mike saw that he was there too, standing behind Mr. Diaz.
Mike said nothing. He just stood there, looking angry. He glanced at Prince Paul. The little boy called out to Mike.
I would have warned you, but I dared not. They came into the room and saw me fixing the ladder - and they made me sit over here whilst they waited to see if you would come up.
And he came up, said Mr. Diaz. And here he can stay. And to-morrow, Luiz, we will board up this window so that neither Paul nor this inquisitive boy can signal to the other tiresome children. They must do without his company until Friday, when we take Paul somewhere that is not crowded out with curious children, who get themselves into trouble through poking their noses into somebody elses business.
You will have to miss a little of your holiday, said sleepy-eyed Luiz to Mike. But Paul here will welcome your company, I am sure! Maybe this will teach you not to interfere another time in what is no business of yours!
The two men went out of the tower-room, locked the door and bolted it. Mike shot to the window and leaned out.
Jack! Jack! he called in a low voice. Are you there?
Yes, said Jack from behind a bush. Whats happened?