The Wabbit and Cardinal Lapin slid down the rope at speed - but
not quickly enough. Sinister shuffling gave way to sinister rushing as two shadows
appeared and made for the rope. "They’ve got cleavers!" shouted the Cardinal, "and
they’ve got cleaving in mind!" "It’s good stout rope. I got it in a ship chandler's store in Civitavecchia," shouted the Wabbit. But the cleavers were razor sharp and they cut
halfway through the Wabbit’s rope. He
felt it give slightly, so he stuck his paws on the wall and slid. That slowed them down
but still they fell. "How high is the
wall?" asked Lapin. "Standard prison issue wall," said the Wabbit. "Too high to look over!" "Where do shadows get cleavers?”
muttered the Cardinal but there was no time for speculation. A sickening snick from above severed the rope completely and the Wabbit and Cardinal Lapin plunged helplessly down the
sheer face of the prison wall. Cardinal Lapin looked up at the Wabbit as they
plunged. "Perhaps I should say a prayer," he said. "Oh, I think I can do better than that," said the Wabbit and he
put his paw to his mouth and made a piercing whistle. "What was that for?" said
Cardinal Lapin. "Taxi!" yelled the Wabbit.