Three hundred paces to the left, rose a dark object, sombre and
lugubrious against the night, which it exceeded in blackness. Only in
the upper portion of the house, a dim light, like a star, glittered.
"Some one is yonder," came from Nighthawk in a murmur as before, "let
us go there, colonel."
And crouching down until his body nearly reached the earth, my
companion glided, snake-like, toward the house. I imitated him; we
passed unobserved, and almost immediately were behind the house.
Nighthawk then rose erect, and said in a whisper:--
"I am going to reconnoitre. Remain here, colonel. If I think you can
come up without danger, I will make you a signal through that window."
With these words Nighthawk pointed to an open window about ten feet
from the ground; glided past me through the broken sash of one beside
which we were standing, and disappeared like a shadow.
I waited, holding my breath. From the upper portion of the house came
the muffled sound of voices. I was endeavoring to distinguish the words
uttered, when I saw Nighthawk appear at the upper window, and make me a
sign.
That sign indicated that I might ascend with a reasonable amount of
safety; and passing without noise through the window, I found myself in
a bare and deserted apartment, with a single shutterless window
opposite me.
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