stronger cord was now fastened to that which the arrow had carried, and this gradually disappeared in the darkness.  A party now stole up the rock, and posted themselves at the foot of the castle wall.  They took with them the coil of rope-ladder and the end of the rope.  At length the rope tightened, and to the end they attached the ladder.  This again ascended until the end only remained upon the ground, and they knew that it must have reached the top of the wall.  They now held fast, and knew that those on the other side, following the instructions given them, would have fastened the rope to a tree upon the opposite side.  They were now joined by the rest of the party, and Sir Adelbert leading the way, and followed by Cuthbert and Blondel, began cautiously to ascend the rope ladder.

All this time no sound from the castle proclaimed that their intention was suspected, or that any alarm had been given, and in silence they gained the top of the wall.  Here they remained quiet until the whole band were gathered there, and then made their way along until they reached the stairs leading to the courtyard.  These they descended, and then, raising his war cry, Sir Adelbert sprang upon the men who, round a fire, were sitting by the gate.  These were cut down before they could leap to their feet, and the party then rushed at the entrance to the dwelling-house.  The retainers of the castle, aroused by the sudden din, rushed from their sleeping places, but taken completely by surprise, were unable to offer any resistance whatever to the strong force which had, as if by magic, taken possession of the castle.  The surprise was complete, and with scarce a blow struck they found themselves in possession.  The baron himself was seized as he rose from his bed, and his rage at finding himself in the power of his enemy was so great as for some time to render him speechless.  Sir Adelbert briefly dictated to him the conditions upon which only he should desist from using his power to hang him over his own gate.  The baron was instantly to issue orders to all his own retainers and tenantry to lend their aid to those of Sir Adelbert in putting the castle of the latter into a state of defence and mending the breach which existed.  A sum of money, equal to the revenues of which he had possessed himself, was to be paid at once, and the knight was to retain possession of Rotherheim and of the baron’s person until these conditions were all faithfully carried out.  The baron had no resource but to assent to these terms, and upon the following day Cuthbert and Blondel departed upon their way, overwhelmed with thanks by Sir Adelbert, and confident that he would now be able to regain and hold the possession of his estate.

CHAPTER XXVI.

King Richard’s return to England.