The flash of a musket, and the whistle of a ball close to him, showed him that his figure had been seen against the skyline.
Drawing back, he paused a moment in thought.

The trapdoor would be discovered at once, and a search on the roof commenced, and the soldiers would be placed behind the houses.

There was no time to be lost in continuing his search for a house with a building projecting behind, onto which he could lower himself with his rope, which was not nearly long enough to reach the ground.
Looking over at the back, between two of the sharp ridges of the roofs, he hung his rope so that it would fall across a window, fastened the end round a stack of chimneys, and then, taking hold of it, swung himself over.

He had been very careful in tying the knots, and had tested them by pulling at them with all his strength; but he did not feel at all certain that they might not draw with his weight, in which case he must have been dashed to pieces on the ground far below him; but there was no time to hesitate, and, as fast as he could, he began to slide down the rope, the frequent knots affording good hold for his hands.
At last he reached the window.

It was made of the small diamond-shaped panes at that time in general use.