He proceeded to make a loop with the rope, and
in this he fixed the board for a seat. He then took the blankets
from the bed and folded them. He took out a pair of heavy calfskin
gloves, which he tossed to Bates, and a ball of twine, one end of
which he tied about his wrist. He tossed the ball on the floor, and
then turned out the lights in the room, raised the shade of the
window, and placed the bundle of blankets upon the sill.
"All ready," he said.
Bates put on the gloves and seized the rope, and Rodney adjusted the
seat under his thighs. "You hold the blankets, if you will be so
good, Mr. Montague, and keep them in place, if you can."
And Bates uncoiled some of the rope, and passed it over the top of
the large bureau which stood beside the window. He brought the rope
down to the middle of the body of the bureau, so that by this means
he could diminish the pull of Rodney's weight.
"Steady now," said the latter; and he climbed over the sill, and,
holding on with his hands, gradually put his weight against the
rope.
"Now! All ready," he whispered.
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