CHAPTER XXVIII. ESCAPE.

 Jasper waited impatiently for supper-time, not that he was hungry, for excitement had taken away his appetite, but because he was feverish¹ with anxiety as to his prospects² of release.

 

"Suppose the old man should suspect her and come up with the supper himself," he thought, anxiously.

 

But his anxiety proved groundless.

 

A little after five the door was opened and disclosed the young girl, Nancy. His face lighted up joyfully³.

 

"I'm glad it's you, Nancy," he said. "I was afraid I should see your uncle. Does he suspect anything?"

 

"No; he scolded me for allowing you so long to eat your dinner, that's all."

 

"I'll take it off the plate and eat afterward⁴. Now, I want to talk a little. Have you found out any way to help me?"

 

"I don't know. Do you think you could get out of this window?"

 

Jasper looked at the aperture⁵ critically.

 

"Yes, I think I could," he said, after a pause, "with some one on the other side to pull me through."

 

"I'll do that," said Nancy.

 

"You will? You're a trump⁶! What am I to do afterward? Can you help me to leave the house?"

 

"That's what I've been thinking," said Nancy. "I'm afraid it wouldn't do to let you out at the front door. It's locked and bolted, and the bolt squeaks⁷. I've tried it to see."

 

"The windows?" suggested Jasper, anxiously.

 

"No, I am afraid not."

 

"Then if I can't leave the house, it's no use to get out of this room."

 

"Yes, there's another way out, but it requires courage."

 

"I'm not a coward," said Jasper.

 

"No, you don't look like it," said Nancy, who was more favorably disposed toward Jasper on account of his good looks.

 

"Thank you," said Jasper, gratified. "Now tell me, what is your plan?"

 

"There's a scuttle⁸ through which you can get out on the roof. Would you dare to do it?"

 

"Yes; I might get on to some other roof."

 

"Yes, but you might slip off."

 

"I am not afraid. You think of that because you are a girl."

 

"Yes. I would rather stay here than trust myself on the roof."

 

"Do you know if the next house is higher than this?"

 

"Yes, it is."

 

"That's very awkward," said Jasper, thoughtfully.

 

"But there are some windows in the side of the house. You might get in at one of them."

 

"And be taken for a house-breaker? Well, I must run the risk, any way. When do you think I had better try it?"

 

"To-night. There'll be nobody in the house to-night but uncle and me."

 

"That's good," said Jasper, reflecting that Nathan looked feeble, and being small in size would not be more than a match for his strength if the worst came to the worst.

 

"When does your uncle go to bed?" he asked.

 

"At eleven."

 

"When will you come for me?"

 

"At twelve, or a little after."

 

"Are the nights dark now?" asked Jasper. "It would be rather ticklish⁹ being on the roof if it were pitch dark."

 

"No, the moon will be up then."

 

"That's all right. If you find out anything else that will help, let me know."

 

"Yes, I will."

 

"Nancy!"

 

"Yes, uncle!" answered the girl. "To-night at twelve!" she said, in a low voice, and hurried down stairs.

 

Jasper, in thinking over the plan he had in view, realized that it was one that would probably require all his courage and nerve. It would be a great relief to get through without accident. But he never thought of backing out. He felt that anything was better than to be confined longer in his present prison.

 

It seemed a long time to wait, especially in the darkness, for the oil was burned out in his lamp, and there was no chance of asking for a further supply. He had forgotten it when Nancy came up with his supper. However, he felt that it was of no particular consequence, as he was so soon to be released.

 

So the hours passed. He did not permit himself to fall asleep, lest he should not be awake when Nancy came.

 

At last he heard a faint noise at the door, and saw Nancy standing¹⁰ outside with a candle.

 

"Are you ready?" she whispered.

 

"Yes, ready and waiting."

 

"Now try to get through, and I will help you."

 

She set down the candle, and Jasper set about his task. It was a tight squeeze, but at last he got out, and stood on his feet in the entry.

 

"Now, follow me," said Nancy, in a whisper.

 

He climbed a narrow, steep staircase, and then a ladder, and unfastening the scuttle, he laid it back. The moon shone softly down, bathing the city in its beautiful light. He got out lightly on the roof.

 

"Good-bye!" he said, "and thank you, Nancy."

 

"Good luck!" said Nancy.

 

He lowered the scuttle, and sat astride the roof, considering what to do next.

1 feverish   

adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的

参考例句：

• He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
• They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。

2 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

3 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

4 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

5 aperture   

n.孔，隙，窄的缺口

参考例句：

• The only light came through a narrow aperture.仅有的光亮来自一个小孔。
• We saw light through a small aperture in the wall.我们透过墙上的小孔看到了亮光。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 squeaks   

n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者

参考例句：

• The upper-middle-classes communicate with each other in inaudible squeaks, like bats. 那些上中层社会的人交谈起来象是蚊子在哼哼，你根本听不见。 来自辞典例句
• She always squeaks out her ideas when she is excited. 她一激动总是尖声说出自己的想法。 来自互联网

8 scuttle   

v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗

参考例句：

• There was a general scuttle for shelter when the rain began to fall heavily.下大雨了，人们都飞跑着寻找躲雨的地方。
• The scuttle was open,and the good daylight shone in.明朗的亮光从敞开的小窗中照了进来。

9 ticklish   

adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理

参考例句：

• This massage method is not recommended for anyone who is very ticklish.这种按摩法不推荐给怕痒的人使用。
• The news is quite ticklish to the ear,这消息听起来使人觉得有些难办。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。