What do YOU know of whether the rope be long enough?
But I shall know it in ten minutes!'
The good old fellow laughed in his moustache, and patted me.
It was all very well to show the disposition of my temper before a
friend alone; before my assembled comrades the thing had to go
handsomely. It was then my time to come on the stage; and I hope I
took it handsomely.
'Now, gentlemen,' said I, 'if the rope is ready, here is the
criminal!'
The tunnel was cleared, the stake driven, the rope extended. As I
moved forward to the place, many of my comrades caught me by the
hand and wrung it, an attention I could well have done without.
'Keep an eye on Clausel!' I whispered to Laclas; and with that, got
down on my elbows and knees took the rope in both hands, and worked
myself, feet foremost, through the tunnel. When the earth failed
under my feet, I thought my heart would have stopped; and a moment
after I was demeaning myself in mid-air like a drunken jumping-
jack. I have never been a model of piety, but at this juncture
prayers and a cold sweat burst from me simultaneously.
The line was knotted at intervals of eighteen inches; and to the
inexpert it may seem as if it should have been even easy to
descend. The trouble was, this devil of a piece of rope appeared
to be inspired, not with life alone, but with a personal malignity
against myself.
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