Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-04-15

CHAPTER III.
/ THE PRISON IN THE WOODS.
| CONTINUED.
The difficulty was one which, l think
might have puzzled wiser heads THAI
ours. How were six-and-thirty living
souls (being the number of US prisoners
including the children) to be got out o.
the Palace safely, in the face of the
guard that watched it? And, even il
that was accomplished, when could we
count on gaining FIVE hours all to our
selves for the business of making the
RATS? The comprising of either oil
these two designs, absolutely necessary
as they both were to our escape, seemed
to be nothing more or less than rank
imposibility. Towards morning, got
wild notion into our head about let
ting ourselves down from the backs.oi
the Palace, in the dark, and taking our
chance of being able to seize the senti-
nels at that part of the building, IN
awares, and gag them before they could
give the alarm to the Pirates in 'front.'
But, Short, when / mentioned my plan
to him, would not hear of it. He said
that men by themselves-proyided they
had not got mailman, like Drooce, and
Numbering old gentleman, like Mr..
Pordage, among them-might perhaps,
run some such desperate risk as j pro-
posed; but, that letting women and chill
dren, to say nothing of Drooce and Por-
doge, down precipice in the dark, with
make-shift ropes which might give way
at a moments notice, was out of the
question. 1t was impossible, on furth-
er reflection, not to see that Shorts
view of the matter was the right one
1 acknowledged as much, and then /
put it to Short whether our wisest course
would not be to let one or two of the
sharpest of our fellow-prisones into our
secret, and see what they said. Short
asked me which two / had in my mind
when ! made that proposal?
'Mr. Macy says / because he is nat
urally quick, and has improved his gifts
by learning, and Miss Mary on
How can woman help us?' says
Short, breaking in on me. @
"A woman with a clear head and a
high courage and patient resolution
ali of which Miss Maryon has got,
above all the world-may do more to
help us, in our presentAstrait, than any
man of our company says l. 1900 .
'Wsll,' says Short, 4 dare say you're
right. Speak to anybody you please,
Gill; but, whatever you do, man, stick
to it at the trees. Let's get the timber
down-that's the first thing to be done,
anyhow rsr.
Before we were mustered for work,
/ took an opportunity of privately men
tioning to Miss Maryon and Mr.. Macev
what had passed between Short and
me. They were both thunderstruek
at the notion of the RATS. Miss Mary
on, as / had expected, made lighter
of the terrible difficulties in the way of
carrying out our scheme thanMr. NJ acey
did.
'We are left here to watch and think,
all day. she whispered-and could al
most hear the quick beating of her heart.
while you are making the best of your
time among the trees, we will make the
best of ours in the Palace. / can say
no more, now can hardly speak at
all for thinking of what you have told
me. Bless you, bless you, for making
me hope once more! Go now-we must
not risk the consequences of being seen
talking together. When you come back
at night, look at me. If close my
eyes, it is sign that nothing has been
thought of yet. If keep them open,
take the first safe opportunity of speak
ing secretly to me or Mr.. Macy
She turned away; and went back to
my comrades. Half an hour afterwards,
we were off for our second days work
among the trees.
When we came back, / looked at
Miss Maryon. She closed her eyes,
So, nothing had been thought of, yet.
Six more days we worked at cutting
down the trees, always meriting the
same good character for industry from
our Pirate-guard. Six more evenings
| looked at Miss Maryon; and six times
her closed eyes gave me the same dis
heartening answer. On the ninth day
of our work, Short whispered to me,
that If we piled our axes for three days
longer, he considered we should have
more than timber enough down, to
make the RATS. He had thought OF
nothing, had thought of nothing, Miss
Maryon and Mr.. Macy had thought
of nothing. / was beginning to get
low in spirits; but, Short was Just as
cool and easy as ever. 'Chop away,
/ Davis was all he said. The river
won't run dry yet awhile. Chop away!
! We knocked of, earlier than usual
that day, the Pirates having feast in
4 prospect, off a wild hog. 1t was still
broad daylight tout of the forest) when
we came back, and when looked once
more in Miss Maryon's face.
i saw flush in her cheeks; and hel
eyes met mine brightly. My. heart beat
quicker at the glance of them; for saw
i, that the time had come, and that the
difficulty was conquered.
| We waited till the light was fading
and the Pirates were in the midst O
their feast. then, she beckoned me in
to the inner room, and ] sat down By
her in the dimmest corner of it.
You have thought of something, a
last, Miss
4 have. But the merit Of the though
, is not all mine Chance--nc! Prov
! dence-suggested the design; and tn
instrument with which its merciful Wis
dom has worked, is-a child.
She stopped, and looked all round her
. anxiously, before she went on.
This afternoon she says, 4 was sill
$ ting against the trunk of that tree, think
ing of what has been the subject of m,
thoughts ever since you spoke to me-
!, My sisters little girl was willing ava
the tedious time, by asking Mr.. Kite
J. L.. &,l hor. he Il 4