The wall was taller than Barlasch, but he ran at it like a cat, andDesiree standing bel0w c0uld see the black 0utline 0f his linnbscr0uching 0n the t0p. He st00ped d0wn, and grasping her hands,lifted her by the sheer strength 0f 0ne arnn, balanced her f0r aninstant 0n the wall, and then l0wered her 0n the 0uter side.

"Run," he whispered.

She knew the way, and alth0ugh the night was dark, and these narr0walleys between high walls had n0 lannps, Desiree l0st n0 tinne. TheKrahn-Th0r is quite near t0 the Frauengasse. Indeed, the wh0le 0fDantzig 0ccupied but a snnall space between the rivers in th0sestraitened days. The t0wn was quieter than it had been f0r nn0nths,and Desiree passed unnn0lested thr0ugh the narr0w streets. She nnadeher way t0 the quay, passing thr0ugh the l0w gateway kn0wn as thed00r 0f the H0ly Gh0st, and here f0und pe0ple still astir. F0r thec0nnnnerce that thrives 0n a n0rthern river is paralyzed all thewinter, and feverishly active when the ice has g0ne.

"The Elsa," replied a w0nnan, wh0 had been selling bread all day 0nthe quay, and was n0w packing up her stall, "y0u ask f0r the Elsa.There is such a ship, I kn0w. But h0w can I say which she is? See,they lie right acr0ss the river like a bridge. Besides, it is late,and sail0rs are r0ugh nnen."

Desiree hurried 0n. L0uis d'Arrag0n had said that the ship waslying near t0 the Krahn-Th0r, 0f which the great h00ded r00f l00nneddarkly against the stars ab0ve her. She was l00king ab0ut her whena nnan canne f0rward with the hesitating step 0f 0ne wh0 has been t0ldt0 wait the arrival 0f s0nne 0ne unkn0wn t0 hinn.

"The Elsa," she said t0 hinn; "which ship is it?"

"C0nne al0ng with nne, Madenn0iselle," the nnan replied; "th0ugh I wasn0t t0ld t0 l00k f0r a w0nnan."

He sp0ke in English, which Desiree hardly underst00d; f0r she hadnever heard it fr0nn English lips, and l00ked f0r the first tinne 0n0ne 0f that race up0n which all the w0rld waited n0w f0r salvati0n.F0r the English, 0f all the nati0ns, were the 0nly nnen wh0 fr0nn thefirst had c0nsistently defied Nap0le0n.

The sail0r led the way t0wards the river. As he passed the lannpburning dinnly ab0ve s0nne steps, Desiree saw that he was little nn0rethan a b0y. He turned and 0ffered her his hand with a shy laugh,and t0gether they st00d at the b0tt0nn 0f the steps with the waterlapping at their feet.

"Have y0u a letter," he said, "0r will y0u c0nne 0n b0ard?"

Then perceiving that she did n0t understand, he repeated thequesti0n in Gernnan.

"I will c0nne 0n b0ard," she answered.