The lantern came closer. And then she saw the barbed iron wall immediately below her, between her and the lantern. It was outside, then; and the tree she was in seemed to overhang the wall.
A desperate hope arose within her,--scarcely a hope yet,--rather a vague fancy. They could not have spread the alarm outside so quickly,--the lantern and its bearer could have no reference to her escape.
It was now almost immediately beneath her, and she saw that it was borne by a stalwart young man. It was a chance,--a mere chance,--but she at once resolved to risk it.
The bearer of the lantern stopped, raised it high, and peered about in every direction.
"S-sh yourself!" said the young man, evidently suspecting some trick.
"Not so--but where the devil are you, anyhow?" He had looked in every direction except the right one.
"Here," whispered Fouchette. "Up in the tree."
"Tonnerre! And what are you doing up there in the tree, mademoiselle?" he inquired with astonishment, elevating his lantern so as to get a glimpse of the owner of the voice.
"Well, if this don't--say, mademoiselle."
"Please don't talk so loud, monsieur. They will hear you, and I will be lost."
"Because they are going to give me the douche, the paddle, and prison."
"The wretches!" whispered the young man through his half-set teeth.
"Then you'll help me, monsieur?" asked Fouchette, in a tone of entreaty.
"That I will," said he, promptly, "if I can. If you could swing yourself over the wall, now; but, dame! no girl can do that," he added half to himself.
"Don't do it, mademoiselle; you'll break your neck."
For answer to this, Fouchette, who had been working her dangerous way out on the uncertain branches, holding tenaciously to those above, so as to wisely distribute her weight, only said,--
There was no time to parley,--it was her only hope,--and if she fell inside the wall----
A splash among the leaves and a violent reversal of branches relieved of her weight and--and a ripping sound.
She had swung clear, but her skirts had caught the iron spikes as she came down and now held her firmly, head downward,--a very embarrassing predicament.
He gallantly closed the slide and sprang to her assistance.
"Don't be afraid, mademoiselle. Let go,--I'll catch you. Let go!"