He heard her voice calling him, and
hurried in the direction of the sound. But he could see nothing of her.
"More tricks," he said to himself. "It is of no use to stab this one. I
must wait till I see what can be done." Still he heard Alice calling
him, and still he followed, as well as he could. At length he came to a
doorway, open to the air, through which the moonlight fell. But when he
reached it, he found that it was high up in the side of a tower, the
wall of which went straight down from his feet, without stair or
descent of any kind. Again he heard Alice call him, and lifting his
eyes, saw her, across a wide castle-court, standing at another door
just like the one he was at, with the moon shining full upon her.
"All right, Alice!" he cried. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," answered she.
"Then listen. This is all a trick. It is all a lie of that old wretch
in the kitchen. Just reach out your hand, Alice dear."
Alice did as Richard asked her; and, although they saw each other many
yards off across the court, their hands met.
"There! I thought so!" exclaimed Richard triumphantly. "Now, Alice, I
don't believe it is more than a foot or two down to the court below,
though it looks like a hundred feet. Keep fast hold of my hand, and
jump when I count three." But Alice drew her hand from him in sudden
dismay; whereupon Richard said, "Well, I will try first," and jumped.
The same moment his cheery laugh came to Alice's ears, and she saw him
standing safe on the ground, far below.
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