Roderic himself experienced no pleasure in this groping in the dark, and would have been much better satisfied could he have known just what lay before him.
However, there be times when one must accept philosophically whatever favors the Fates choose to toss us as they go swinging past--times when action is the only resource left, and even at that one needs be wide awake in order to take advantage of the opportunity.
When he burst into the apartment Roderic heard a feminine shriek, but his only thought was a door of some sort that would give him egress.
Fortunately he found this, more through good luck than anything else.
Few though the seconds had been since his departure from the balcony, he could already hear the lusty blows that were being delivered upon the door of the house, which, unless of far better material than the average doors in San Juan must speedily succumb before the vigorous assault.
This meant that should he descend to the lower strata in search of an outlet by way of court or garden or rear exit of some sort he might be just in time to be overwhelmed by the inflowing tide of eager hustling citizens and soldiers.
At the same time it would never do to stand still and lose what little advantage he had gained.
Perhaps even now some of his enemies were clambering up to the balcony, since he had shown them the way.
Roderic had at least retarded pursuit from that quarter by closing the door after quitting the apartment from whence the dismal shrieks sounded in a high pitched female voice, and the others might not prove so successful in finding the opening as he had been.
He knew the peculiarities of Spanish houses.
In all probability there was some means of reaching the roof, though he hardly expected to find an _azotea_ with its flowers and place for lounging, as in the better class of more isolated dwellings.
Thus it came to pass that Roderic found himself crawling through an opening at the top of a ladder, and thus reaching the outer air.
His enemies were giving tongue with all the eagerness of a pack of hounds, and the quick and thrilling pulsation of blows announced that as yet the stubborn door had failed to yield before their vigorous assault.
Just then, however, a crash followed by a chorus of whoops and much laughter declared that success had finally rewarded their efforts.