Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/54

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HOW THE ARISTOCRATS SAILED AWAY.
39

delicate, and flimsy. At last, the Smart-boy hit upon a plan. The apartment was a very long one, and was floored with narrow boards, of costly wood, which ran from one end to the other of it. He proposed that they should take up one of these boards,


THE PRISONERS ESCAPE.


and, putting it out of the window, should rest one end on the ground, and the other on the window-sill. Then they could slide down.

Instantly, every aristocrat set to work, with knife, or piece of tin, or small coin, to take out the silver screws which held down one of the boards.

"It is very narrow," said the Head-boy. "I am afraid we shall slip off"."

"Oh, there is no danger of that," replied the Smart-boy.