There was not much fear then but that I could make my way out of Birtwhistle's dormitory.
I waited a weary while until the coughing and tossing had died away, and there was no sound of wakefulness from the long line of wooden cots; then I very softly rose, slipped on my clothes, took my shoes in my hand, and walked tiptoe to the window.

I opened the casement and looked out.

Underneath me lay the garden, and close by my hand was the stout branch of a pear tree.

An active lad could ask no better ladder.
Once in the garden I had but a five-foot wall to get over, and then there was nothing but distance between me and home.

I took a firm grip of a branch with one hand, placed my knee upon another one, and was about to swing myself out of the window, when in a moment I was as silent and as still as though I had been turned to stone.
There was a face looking at me from over the coping of the wall.